Boardroom reshuffle at Promethean sees ex-Scapa CFO join

BOTH THE CFO and the chairman have left interactive technology business Promethean to pursue other opportunities, the company has said.

Promethean, which provides interactive technology to schools, has lined up former group finance director of Kingfisher, Philip Rowley, as chairman and former Ex-Scapa CFO of Northern Europe, Ian Baxter, as CFO.

Neil Johnson, who joined Promethean World as CFO in 2005, will leave the company at the end of April. The company said that Johnson, who started out his career at Deloitte leaving as audit manager, wanted to further his career. Johnson has previously worked as group financial controller to British Energy Group, European financial controller at GenRad Inc and financial controller at Courtaulds, before he took the Promethean role.

He is succeeded by Promethean group financial controller Ian Baxter, who joined in 2009. Baxter started his career at Ernst & Young where he worked for more than six years, latterly as audit manager. However, he has had a strong career, previously serving as group financial controller of electronics business Volex; and prior to that worked at adhesive manufacturers Scapa for nine years, latterly as CFO of its Northern Europe division.

Howe, said: “We recognise his [Johnson’s] desire to move on and further his career and we would like to thank him for his hard work and significant contribution.

“We welcome Ian Baxter to our board as our new chief financial officer. His skills and knowledge of our business and marketplace make him an ideal successor to Neil and mean that we can manage the hand-over in good order and without undue delay.

Graham Howe, who has been chairman since 2005, will step down at the end of May but remain at the company as a non-executive director. He will be succeeded by former Kingfisher group FD Philip Rowley who joined as a non-executive in 2009.

Rowley had previously spent six years at internet service provider AOL Europe in a variety of roles including chairman and CEO. Before that, he worked at home improvement retailer Kingfisher for three years, latterly as deputy CEO and FD of the company’s general merchandise division. He has also served as executive vice-president and CFO of EMI Music Worldwide, which entered administration and was sold in a pre-pack to its lenders in 2011.

His musical background put him in good stead for his role as a chairman of HMV previously, but, he is currently non-executive director of ARM Holdings and chairman of Livestation and Pouncer Media.

Current chairman Howe said: “I believe that nine years is long enough to be a chairman. I also know that Philip Rowley will be an excellent successor, with all the skills, experience and knowledge of the business that is needed.”