26th May 2005 07:01
Cookson Group PLC26 May 2005 Cookson Group plc Board and Senior Management Changes Cookson Group plc, the international materials science company, announces thefollowing Board and senior management changes. Mike Butterworth Mike Butterworth is to join the Board as a Director with effect from 15 June2005, and will assume the role of Group Finance Director on 1 August 2005. Mike Butterworth, 44, was Group Finance Director of Incepta Group plc, theinternational marketing and communications group, from 2001 until May 2005. Hepreviously spent five years as Group Financial Controller at BBA Group plc, theinternational aviation and materials technology group. He qualified as achartered accountant with Arthur Andersen. In assuming the role of Group Finance Director, he will succeed Dennis Millardwhose intended departure was announced in March 2005. Dennis Millard will stepdown from the Board and leave the Company on 31 July 2005. There are no disclosures required in respect of Mr Butterworth under paragraph6.F.2 (b) to (g) of the Listing Rules. Jeff Hewitt Jeff Hewitt is to join the Board as a non-executive Director, and assume therole of Chairman of the Audit Committee, with effect from 1 June 2005. Jeff Hewitt, 57, is currently Deputy Chairman and Group Finance Director ofElectrocomponents plc, the international high service distributor of electronic,electrical, industrial and commercial supplies. He is also a non-executiveDirector and Senior Independent Director of Roxboro Group plc, the internationalspecialist electronics products group, and is a chartered accountant. There are no disclosures required in respect of Mr Hewitt under paragraph 6.F.2(b) to (g) of the Listing Rules. Gian Carlo Cozzani Gian Carlo Cozzani, 64, executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of theCeramics Division, is to step down from the Board on his 65th birthday on 6October 2005, and will retire from the Company shortly thereafter. Gian Carlo Cozzani has been with Cookson since 1988, and an executive Directorsince 1999. Francois Wanecq Francois Wanecq has been appointed as the designated successor to Gian CarloCozzani as Chief Executive Officer of the Ceramics Division. Francois Wanecq held a series of senior management roles at ArjoWiggins Group,the global paper group, from 1995 to 2004. He was a Board director of ArjoWiggins Appleton plc from 1999 to 2001, and was Chairman of the management boardof ArjoWiggins sas from 2001 to 2004. From 1985 to 1995, he was Managing Director of the technical ceramics divisionof Saint-Gobain SA, the global industrial materials group, and previously spentseven years with the French Ministry for Industry, as head of the research andproduction department at the Oil and Gas Directorate. Nick Salmon, Chief Executive of Cookson, commented: "We are delighted to welcome Mike Butterworth to the Board as our new GroupFinance Director. He has demonstrated exceptional financial and commercialacumen in his career to date, and his years at BBA Group provide directlyrelevant experience in businesses of a similar nature to Cookson's. He istherefore very well qualified to carry on the excellent work undertaken byDennis Millard. "We are also very fortunate to have recruited Francois Wanecq as the designatedsuccessor to Gian Carlo Cozzani as head of our Ceramics Division. He has anextensive international industrial and management track record, including adecade of directly relevant experience within the ceramics industry." Bob Beeston, Chairman of Cookson, commented: "I am very pleased that we have been able to secure Jeff Hewitt's services as anon-executive Director. He has a wealth of UK plc board experience, in both anexecutive and non-executive capacity, and has exactly the right credentials toassume the important role of Chairman of the Audit Committee. "I would like to repeat our thanks to Dennis Millard for his outstandingcontribution to Cookson as Group Finance Director over nine years. He willleave Cookson on a very sound financial footing, and we wish him well for thefuture. "Gian Carlo Cozzani has been an excellent leader of Cookson's ceramicsbusinesses for many years, and a valued colleague. We wish him all the verybest for his retirement. "I would also like to endorse Nick Salmon's words of welcome to both MikeButterworth and Francois Wanecq." - Ends - Shareholder/analyst enquiries: Nick Salmon, Chief Executive 020 7061 6500Dennis Millard, Group Finance Director 020 7061 6500 Press enquiries: John Olsen, Hogarth Partnership 020 7357 9477 Notes to editors: Mike Butterworth will receive a basic annual salary of £250,000. His othercontractual terms are consistent with those of Nick Salmon, Chief Executive,which are detailed in the 2004 Annual Report and include a notice period of notmore than 12 months. About Cookson Group: Cookson Group is a leading materials science company which provides materials,processes and services to customers worldwide. The Group's operations are formed into three divisions - Ceramics, Electronicsand Precious Metals. The Ceramics division is the world leader in the supply of advanced flow controland refractory products and systems to the iron and steel industry and is also aleading supplier of refractory lining materials for iron and steelmaking andother industrial processes. The Electronics division is a leading manufacturer and supplier of materials andservices to the electronics industry, primarily serving fabricators andassemblers of printed circuit boards, assemblers of semiconductor packaging andthe electrical and industrial markets. The Precious Metals division is a leading supplier to the jewellery industry offabricated precious metals products. Headquartered in London, Cookson employs some 16,000 people in more than 35countries and sells its products in over 100 countries. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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