On the move

Marks & Spencer has appointed Alison Reed as its new FD in a bid to steer the ailing retailer back on course. Reed has worked at M&S for 17 years, both in and outside the UK finance function. She replaces Robert Colvill, who is set to retire in the summer.

Marconi FD John Mayo CBE, who is due to succeed Lord (George) Simpson as chief executive later this year, has been promoted to deputy chief executive. Mayo is being succeeded by 39-year-old Steve Hare, the group’s senior vice president finance. Mayo, 45, was one of the youngest FDs in the FTSE-100 when he took the lead in demerging Zeneca from ICI in 1993, before moving to GEC (as was) in 1997. In the year to March 2000, he earned #967,000 in salary, benefits and bonus – the third-highest FD pay package in the FTSE-100. Since then, the Marconi share price has peaked – and then fallen by about 75%.

Dan Thompson, founder and chief exec of 365 Corporation, is to quit his post at the end of June. FD Ian Martin, interviewed in our April 2000 issue, becomes deputy chief exec. The post of chief exec remains unfilled.

Network integrator Logical Group has appointed its corporate planning director Nigel Drakeford-Lewis as CFO. Former FD Jon James has been promoted to COO of Logical Australia. Drakeford-Lewis joined from Arthur D Little, where he developed new procedures to improve financial management and deliver savings on overheads. He also held senior finance positions at Black & Decker and Grand Metropolitan.

Marketing and communications group Incepta is promoting group finance director Richard Nichols to the position of chief executive. Nichols will remain as FD pending the arrival of his successor, Mike Butterworth, before July this year.

Software firm DCS Group has appointed Stephen Yapp as FD, prompting a 20% rise in its share price. Yapp was most recently FD of scaffolding firm SGB group.

Andrew Mallows has been promoted to the position of FD for Domino’s Pizza Group Ltd, a subsidiary of Domino’s Pizza UK & Eire. The former FC will take a more strategic role within the company, although chief exec Stephen Helmsley will retain FD responsibilities for the main group. Mallows joined Domino’s in 1996, having gained experience as a commercial manager for Forte.

E-HR solutions provider Pecaso has appointed Matthew O’Sullivan as CFO. O’Sullivan was previously FD of Orion Publishing Group.

Toy manufacturer Golden Bear has appointed Wendy Slater as FD. A chartered accountant, she trained with Neville Russell, becoming an audit manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Slater has been FD at National Courier Network and most recently Saint-Gobain Pipe Systems.

Associated Holdings executive Stephen Wyeth has been promoted to FD of services group Stenoak Associated Services, following its takeover of Associated Holdings.

Company secretary Denis May has been appointed FD of kitchenwares and building materials manufacturer Frederick Cooper, following the resignation of Nicholas Keegan.

Business space developer Akeler has appointed Nigel Pope as FD. The chartered accountant has held positions at clothes retailer Etam and Swedish pension fund SPP.

Focus Solutions Group has promoted Sue Hele to FD. She joined as FC in September, after four years as m&a manager at AT&T. Paul Neilson has been appointed finance director of British European’s airline division. Neilson has held positions as FD at British Regional Airlines and Manx Airlines.

Inkjet technology firm Xaar has appointed Gordon MacLeod as FD at its AGM, following the resignation on the same day of Jonathan Lowe to join a private equity firm. MacLeod has also been made company secretary.

Internet Security Systems has appointed Penny McCulloch to the position of UK and Eire FD. McCulloch has 17 years’ financial management experience in international leisure, retail and business-to-business organisations. She joins from the Hilton Group, having taken a leading role during the divestment of its Ladbroke international operations division.

Ray Stidwell has quit as group FD of crane hire group Baldwins Industrial. Rick Barnett has been named UK MD, with Richard Baldwin announcing he intends to split the roles of chairman and CE in the near future.

FD John Perkins has been promoted to the position of chief exec of Bayne, following its failure to purchase the National Packaging Group from under the noses of Glasgow-based MacFarlane Group.

Appointments announcements can be faxed to us on (020) 7316 9250 or e-mailed to [email protected].