25th Jan 2006 08:59
Premier Farnell plc 25 January 2006 Board changes: Chief Executive Officer and Finance Director Premier Farnell plc, the leading global marketer and distributor of electronic,maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products and services, is pleased toannounce the appointment of Harriet Green as Chief Executive and a director ofthe Company with effect from 3 April 2006.Harriet Green (44) has extensive experience of the electronics componentdistribution industry. Since 1994, she has been with Arrow Electronics, Inc.,the NYSE listed global provider of products, services and solutions toindustrial and commercial users of electronic components and computer products.She has held leadership positions in the UK, Europe and US, where she wasPresident of Arrow's North American Contract Manufacturing Services group(CMS). She is currently President, Arrow Asia Pacific, a region that had salesof $1.17 billion in 2004 and 1,400 employees operating from 41 sites in 11countries.Prior to joining Arrow, Harriet was Managing Director of the Macro Group, a UKbased specialist electronics distributor and subsidiary of Diploma PLC.Sir Peter Gershon, Executive Chairman of Premier Farnell, said:"I am delighted to announce Harriet's appointment following a rigorousrecruitment process in which we looked at a number of outstanding candidatesfrom the UK, US and Asia. She brings to Premier Farnell an invaluable depth ofexperience in successfully building UK, Continental European, North Americanand, most recently, Asian businesses. We can look forward to the company beingled by a very talented Chief Executive with substantial knowledge andexperience of our industry."Sir Peter Gershon will remain Executive Chairman until Mrs Green joins theGroup, at which time he will revert to the position of non-executive Chairman.Separately Andrew Fisher, Group Finance Director, has tendered his resignationpending his appointment as Finance Director of Provident Financial plc. He hasagreed to remain in his current position until 16 May 2006. A search process isunderway to appoint his successor.Sir Peter commented:"Andrew has been Group Finance Director of Premier Farnell for eleven years,during which time he has made a very significant contribution to the Group. TheBoard and his colleagues within Premier Farnell will miss him. On their behalf,I thank Andrew for his distinguished service and wish him all the best in thisvery significant career move."There is no information in respect of Mrs Green that is required to bedisclosed pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.13.For further information, contact:Sir Peter Gershon, Executive Premier Farnell plc +44 (0) 20 7851 4100 Chairman James Garthwaite, Group Director, Communications Andrew Lorenz / Richard Financial Dynamics (UK) +44 (0) 20 7269 7291 Mountain Brian Rafferty / John Sutton Taylor Rafferty (NA) + 1 212 889 4350 Notes to EditorsHarriet GreenSince 1994, Harriet has been with Arrow Electronics, Inc. (ticker symbol: ARW),the NYSE listed global provider of products, services and solutions toindustrial and commercial users of electronic components and computer products.She is currently President, Arrow Asia Pacific, a position she has held sinceMarch 2004. Arrow's Asia Pacific region has 1,400 employees and operates from41 sites in 11 counties including Australia, China, Hong King, India, Korea,Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. In2004, the region had sales of $1.17 billion. Whilst with Arrow, Harriet hasheld a number of key roles. In 1996, she became Managing Director of Arrow'sNorth European region with responsibility for both Arrow's Components andComputer Products businesses across the eight countries within the region,employing 1,800 people with a turnover of $1.1 billion.In March 2000, Harriet moved to North America to become President of Arrow CMS,a sales organization focused on the changing needs of the North American CEMcommunity. In early 2002, she was named Vice President of Global Strategy andWorldwide Supplier Marketing.Prior to joining Arrow, Harriet was Managing Director of the Macro Group, a UKbased specialist electronics distributor and subsidiary of Diploma PLC. Whilstwith Macro, she won the Woman in Business award in 1993.Harriet is a British subject and a history graduate of London University. Sheis married and lives with her husband and two children in OxfordENDPREMIER FARNELL PLCRelated Shares:
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