Career moves including ITV and Persimmon

ITV announces Chris Kennedy as new CFO

British free-to-air television channel ITV has named current Micro Focus director Chris Kennedy as its chief financial officer. Kennedy has worked with technology group Micro Focus since January and will leave the company by February to join ITV. Prior to this, Kennedy has worked with easyJet as its chief financial officer.

Speaking on his appointment, Kennedy said: “This is an exciting time to be joining ITV.  I’m looking forward to working with the team to execute the strategy and deliver value for shareholders.”

Persimmon chief steps down

British house-building group Persimmon has announced that CEO Jeff Fairburn will leave the company by the end of this year. MD David Jenkinson will replace Fairburn on an interim basis until an appropriate successor is found. Fairburn was part of the company as the CEO since 2013.

Speaking on the resignation, Chairman Roger Devlin said: “Given the continuing distraction around the scale of his remuneration resulting from the 2012 LTIP, the board believes that it is now necessary for there to be to be a change of leadership.”

Sub-prime lender Provident Financial’s long-time CFO stepping down

Bradford-based consumer finance company Provident Financial has announced that CFO Andrew Fisher resigned from his role. He will be succeeded by Simon Thomas of pension provider Just Group with effect from 3 December 2018. Thomas has experience in financial services like consumer, retail banking and insurance. Fisher will continue with the company for three months to ensure a smooth transition.

Commenting on his exit, Fisher said: “Over the last 18 months Provident Financial has come through a very difficult period. With the company’s capital and liquidity position restored to one of strength, I have agreed with the Board that now is an appropriate time to step down as Finance Director.”

Renewi boss Peter Dilnot to join Melrose as operating chief

UK-based waste management company Renewi’s CEO Peter Dilnot has resigned from his role to take the job of a chief operating officer at conglomerate Melrose Industries. Managing Director Otto de Bont of Netherlands Commercial division will succeed Dilnot as CEO in April 2019. Bont joined Renewi in May 2017 and led the newly created Netherlands Commercial division post the merger between Shanks Group and Van Gansewinkel Groep.

Dentsu Aegis Network reveals new-look UK leadership

Dentsu Aegis Network appointed a new senior leadership team for the UK and Ireland, including three promotions and two new appointments. Kate Howe has been promoted to chief growth officer, from her current position of chief executive officer of B2B agency Gyro. James Connelly, founder and executive chairman of mobile agency Fetch, that was acquired by Dentsu Aegis, is promoted to the role of chief strategic development officer. Matthew Platts will take over the new role of chief commercial officer, from his current position of chief executive officer of media brands.

Anne Sewell, joining from Sky, is appointed in the new role of chief people officer. Dennis Romijn will take on the role of chief financial officer. This new team will be led by executive chairman Stef Calcraft and will work closely with the UK & Ireland leadership executive.

Whalley ousted from Royal Mail after 12 years

UK’s postal service and courier company Royal Mail has announced that Sue Whalley, CEO of Post and Parcels UK, will step down from her role effective immediately. Whalley will help the company with the transition of her responsibility till March 2019. Whalley has served in roles such as regulation and government affairs director and chief operating officer.

Commenting on her exit, Chairman Les Owen said: “The Board would like to thank Sue Whalley for the significant contribution she has made to Royal Mail across a whole range of issues over the last twelve years. She has a strong track record of driving operational and cultural change, supporting letters, and implementing digital transformations to support the growth of the parcels business. We wish her well in the future.”

M&S Bank chief Fox quits

Chester-based M&S Bank has announced the resignation of Chief Executive Officer Sue Fox by January next year. The move comes just before the renewal of the bank’s partnership with HSBC. Fox, who was the CEO since 2014, will help find a successor for a smooth handover.

GAM CEO Friedman steps down

Swiss asset manager GAM has announced that CEO Alexander Friedman stepped down from his role with immediate effect. Board member David Jacob will take over as the interim CEO until a successor is found. Before joining GAM in 2014, Friedman held various senior finance roles at UBS Wealth Management, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Lazard.

Speaking on the exit, Chairman Hugh Scott-Barrett commented: “During his tenure as CEO he has driven a significant programme of change that has made us a more modern, diversified and cost-effective business.”

Curzon Energy promotes non-executive director to chief executive

UK-based oil and gas company Curzon Energy has promoted Scott Kaintz from non-executive director to chief executive officer effective immediately. Kaintz will succeed Stephen Schoepfer, who left after two years in the role. Kaintz was recently the executive director at Regency Mines and Red Rock Resources. The company also announced the resignation of CFO Thomas Mazzarisi and Technical Director Thomas Wagenhofer.

Speaking on the changes, Chairman John McGoldrick said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Stephen Schoepfer, Thomas Mazzarisi and Thomas Wagenhofer as they are all talented professionals who have played key roles in Curzon’s development to date. Stephen Schoepfer and Thomas Mazzarisi in particular have made significant contributions to our Coos Bay coal bed methane project for many years both before and after the IPO of Curzon.”

Ingenico calls time on CEO Lazare

Paris-based payment service provider Ingenico Group has announced the resignation of CEO and Chairman Philippe Lazare. Lazare, who will leave the company after 11 years, will be replaced by COO Nicolas Huss as the chief executive. Bernard Bourigeaud will succeed Lazare as the chairman of the company. Prior to Ingenico, Lazare has worked with companies like La Poste and Eurotunnel.

Paul Smith to be appointed CFO of Wintershall DEA

Germany-based companies BASF and LetterOne announced the appointment of Paul Smith as the CFO for the merged company Wintershall DEA. He will be part of the management boards along with his CFO duties. With over 25 years of experience, Smith has worked at Vesta Energy, Talisman Energy, and BP in various senior finance roles. The merger WIntershall and DEA is set to happen in the first half of the next year.

Welcoming Smith to the group, L1 Energy Chairman Lord Browne said: “We are delighted that Paul will join Wintershall DEA as CFO. He has extensive international and entrepreneurial experience in a wide range of leadership positions, and will play a critical role as the company enters a new era of growth and ambition.”

F.Scott Ball appointed as Citycon’s new CEO; Henrica Ginström named COO

Finland-based Citycon has appointed F. Scott Ball as the new CEO. Ball will join Citycon on 15th November, 2018 and will take over the complete responsibility of CEO effective 1st January, 2019. Ball will replace Citycon’s current CEO Marcel Kokkeel, who held the position since 2011. Kokkeel will step down based on mutual agreement on 1st January, 2019, however, he will stay as an advisor to the company until 1st May, 2019.

Ball brings with him more than three decades of extensive experience in the retail real estate business. He was the founder and president of a private real estate investment and retail advisory firm and previously served as president and COO of Starwood Retail Partners. Chairman of Citycon Chaim Katzman said: “We would like to welcome Scott Ball to Citycon. He brings with him broad retail real estate expertise and a strong track record of proactive management, and we believe he is the right person to lead the company in the fast-changing retail market environment.”

Artificial limb maker Ottobock ousts CEO after 10 months

German artificial limb maker Ottobock announced the resignation of its chief executive Oliver Scheel after just 10 months in the job. The company appointed the company’s chief financial officer as interim boss. Prior to joining Ottobock, Scheel was a partner at advisory firm A.T. Kearney and had a mandate to prepare the company for a possible stock market listing. Philipp Schulte-Noelle, who joined as chief financial officer from German healthcare company Fresenius, will take over Scheel’s duties and continue to implement the company’s strategy.

Professor Hans Georg Naeder and fellow Director Marcus Brennecke, in a joint statement, said: “We thank Oliver Scheel for his engagement and for push-starting the process for Ottobock to become an agile company fit for an IPO.”

Arcadis appoints new UK COO

Design and consultancy firm Arcadis has appointed Steve Bromhead as chief operating officer for the consultant’s UK operations. Bromhead is appointed as COO for the group’s newly formed Europe, Middle East and UK division replacing Peter Madden. Bromhead headed up the firm’s global HSBC programme since 2015, prior to which, he was managing director for Arcadis’s combined infrastructure and utilities businesses.

Arcadis CEO Mark Cowlard, said, “We’ve invested heavily in building the underlying foundations for a strong, joined-up business, and I’m pleased to welcome Steve and Tom onto my leadership team.”

Lida appoints Jonathan Goodman as chief executive as it embarks on relaunch

Ad agency Lida, part of the M&C Saatchi Group, named its New York boss Jonathan Goodman as its chief executive, back across the Atlantic. He will replace previous chief executive Victoria Fox, who announced her exit earlier this year. Goodman has been partner and president of Lida New York since 2016, and will return to the UK in the New Year. He joined Lida in 2010 and was promoted to the position of managing director in 2014. Goodman will work closely with newly appointed COO Claire Cootes and Chief Creative Officer Ben Golik in the UK. He will also continue to oversee the New York office and will be responsible for further building the Lida network.

Zinc Media CEO David Galan to step down in 2019

Television and multimedia content producer Zinc Media Group has announced the exit of CEO David Galan from his role. Galan held his current role since February and has been a part of the company for three years. Galan will remain with the company to ensure an orderly transition to his successor. The group has also appointed Harry Bell, managing director of Tern Television Productions, to the board as an executive director effective immediately.

Chairman Peter Bertram commented: “Whilst we will be sad to see David relinquish his CEO role, we are grateful for the role he has played in the transformation of Zinc Media over the last few years, and believe that firm foundations have been laid for the future growth and success of the business. I am pleased that David will remain involved with the company and be available to hand over the reins to his successor, once one has been appointed.”

Adare SEC hires COO to drive operational efficiency

Nottingham based communications firm Adare SEC has taken on board Tom Prestwich as chief operating officer. Prestwich took up office on 1st November and he along with his team will be working towards optimising Adare SEC’s processes in order to achieve operational excellence. He will simultaneously work towards improving the company’s operational efficiency and the delivery of the 3 year business plan. He will oversee operations of all the four sites in Huddersfield, Redditch, Nottingham and Guildford. Prestwich previously served business services company Communisis as director of group change and formerly head of transactional operations.

Commenting upon Tom Prestwich’s appointment, Chief Executive Officer of Adare SEC Rachael Nevins said: “It’s imperative that we use Tom’s experience to help us make our operations further streamlined and create operational efficiency. He’s very energetic, high paced, brings exciting ideas to the table and is a dynamic addition to the team.”

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