News » Career moves including IMF, Mercedes-Benz and World Bank

Career moves including IMF, Mercedes-Benz and World Bank

CFOs, finance directors and other senior directors on the move in the UK and elsewhere, revealed in FD's weekly round-up.

Anshula Kant appointed World Bank CFO

World Bank Group has taken on board Anshula Kant as its managing director and chief financial officer. She will be responsible for the financial and risk management of the World Bank group and work on the mobilization of the International Development Association (DA)  and other financial resources while reporting to president David Malpass. Kant has previously served as the managing director of the State Bank of India.

Commenting upon Anshula Kant’s appointment, World Bank president David Malpass, said: “I am very pleased to appoint Anshula Kant as World Bank Group Managing Director and CFO. Anshula brings more than 35 years of expertise in finance, banking, and innovative use of technology through her work as CFO of the State Bank of India.”

Lagarde resigns as IMF chief, starting race for her successor

The International Monetary Fund’s managing director Christine Lagarde has decided to step down following her nomination to lead the European Central Bank. The selection for her successor has already commenced. Commenting upon her decision to step down, Christine Lagarde said: “With greater clarity now on the process for my nomination as ECB President and the time it will take, I have made this decision in the best interest of the Fund.”

 Mercedes-Benz USA promotes German executive to CFO

Mercedes-Benz USA has taken on board a new vice president and chief financial officer, Christian Struwe, who served as director of controlling for Mercedes-Benz Cars in Stuttgart, Germany. Struwe will look after finance and operations for MBUSA including risk management, treasury, payroll, procurement, information technology, taxes, and facility management.

Sophos finance chief leaves

Cloud-enabled end-user and network security solutions provider Sophos Group’s chief financial officer Nick Bray will be stepping down in November after serving the firm for nine years. He has taken this decision to pursue another role at a private equity-owned firm in the technology sector, although he will remain with the firm until mid-November. The search for a replacement has already commenced.

Calastone appoints CFO

Global funds transaction network, Calastone has appointed James Donaldson as its chief financial officer. Most recently, he served as chief financial officer of Ciklum, he also held various senior leadership roles at Travelocity and lastminute.com. Donaldson will be responsible for Calastone’s recently launched blockchain-enabled Distributed Market Infrastructure for funds in developing the business as clients start to leverage the enhancements made possible through the new technology.

Nick Burns named CEO of Gallagher’s UK employee benefits consulting division

Insurance brokerage, risk management, and consulting services provider, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co has brought on board Nick Burns as its new chief executive officer of the organisation’s employee benefits consulting division. Prior to this role, Burns served as CEO of PIFC Group, Bluefin Corporate Consulting, Capita Employee Solutions and has experience in the non-executive advisory space.

Cake ingredients firm Real Good Food hires new CFO

Cake ingredients firm Real Good Food has brought on board Maribeth Keeling as its group chief financial officer. Keeling brings along around ten years of experience in senior finance, business improvement, integration and company secretarial roles. She will assume this role in addition to her current role with a south Liverpool-based group’s cake decoration division.

Commenting upon Maribeth Keeling’s appointment, chief executive Hugh Cawley, Real Good Food, said: “We are delighted that Maribeth has agreed to assume the role of group CFO and we look forward to working with her to continue the improvement in performance of Real Good Food.”

EVRYTHNG appoints David Reynolds as CFO

IoT and Software company, EvRYTHING has appointed David Reynolds as its chief financial officer. Reynolds brings along extensive experience in directing high growth businesses and will work closely with the executive team to lead the company to further progress. Prior to this, he served as CFO of Brandwatch and has worked with several other high growth digital businesses.

Speaking about his appointment, Reynolds said: “I’m a data driven person, very much focused on revenue growth strategies. While my path to CFO may be considered a bit untraditional — accountant to equity analyst to CFO — it has given me the mix of hands-on experience and knowledge needed to help lead EVRYTHNG in its next phase of growth.”

EnerMech appoints new chief executive

Energy services firm EnerMech has promoted John Guy who currently serves as its chief operating officer to the role of chief executive with effect from 1 August 2019. Guy will replace Doug Duguid who will go on to become the company’s chairman for a period of six months. Guy joined the organisation in 2010 as Asia Pacific regional director where he was responsible for the expansion in Singapore. He has also been responsible for increasing the company’s presence in the Caspian, Middle East and Australasia regions.

B3i names John Carolin CEO

The Blockchain Insurance Industry Initiative (B3i) has appointed John Carolin as its chief executive officer following his service as interim CEO from March 2019. Carolin joined B3i in March 2018 as CFO and as interim CEO he overlooked the delivery of the firm’s first product Cat  XOL reinsurance placement system. Carolin brings along a wealth of experience in the insurance and reinsurance industry and other ventures that include a carbon offset platform, a retail property asset manager and a B2B advertising marketplace.

Performics hires Mykim Chikli as UK CEO

Performance marketing agency Performics has appointed Mykim Chikli as its chief executive officer replacing Jon King. Chikli’s role will include diversifying the products and services the agency provides for clients. She will report to Sue Frogley, UK chief executive of Publicis Media and will work with David Gould  to drive product development, adoption and consistency across the agency’s global network.

Commenting upon her appointment, Mykim Chikli said: “I am 100% devoted and ready to build the greatest performance marketing agency here in the UK. Performics has real potential in this market to go to even greater heights and with the talented team we have already we are going to do just that.”

Yodel Announces New CEO

Independent parcel carrier, Yodel has taken on board Mike Hancox as its chief executive officer. Hancox will take up office on 19 September 2019 and will succeed Andrew Peeler who will be stepping down sometime in August. He has extensive experience in driving successful business transformation in various sectors and has previously held senior leadership roles. Speaking about his appointment, Hancox said: “I am delighted to be joining Yodel at an exciting time in the company’s history. The company has a strong market position, supportive shareholders and quality people throughout the business.”

Jody Madden named as Foundry’s new CEO

Creative software firm Foundry has announced Jody Madden as its new chief executive officer effective immediately. Madden joined the firm in 2013 and has held roles including chief operating officer, chief customer officer and chief product officer. Madden has more than ten years of experience in technology management and studio leadership roles.

Commenting upon Jody Madden’s appointment, Foundry’s co-founder and chief scientist, Simon Robinson, said: “Jody is well known for her collaborative leadership style and this has been crucial in enabling our engineering, product and research teams to achieve results for our customers and build the foundation for the future.”

North East Ambulance Service appoints new chief executive

Hospital & health care service provider, North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) has appointed Helen Ray as its new chief executive who will succeed Yvonne Ormston MBE who stepped down from the role earlier this year. Prior to this, Ray served Northumbria Healthcare as chief operating officer since the creation of the post in July 2018.

Speaking about her appointment, Helen Ray said: “I am absolutely delighted to be appointed to a high performing ambulance trust. I am keen to further support the staff in the great care that they provide. I am also keen to explore how we can continue to improve.”

Cushman & Wakefield makes two UK leadership appointments

Real estate services company Cushman and Wakefield has promoted Candice Matthews to the role of UK chief operating officer. Her role includes leveraging the use of the platform and performance to benefit clients and employees. The company has also named Richard Pickering as UK chief strategy officer.

Welcoming Matthews and Pickering on board, Head of UK & Ireland, George Roberts, Cushman & Wakefield said: “It gives me great pleasure to promote Candice and Richard into key roles that will have a significant bearing on the future success of our UK business. Candice and Richard’s rapid career progression from our graduate scheme to our UK Executive Committee is testament to their talent, acumen and application. I look forward to working closely with them in their new roles.”

Sarah Thomas joins Catalyst as COO

Housing association Catalyst has appointed Sarah Thomas as its new chief operating officer and deputy to the chief executive, Ian McDermott. She previously served as executive director of customer services at Guinness Partnership and held several senior leadership roles including head of customer service and she is a member on the advisory panel of the Housing Ombudsman.

Speaking about her appointment, Thomas said: “feel privileged to join Catalyst at such a formative time in its history, and to work with such a highly regarded team. I am really looking forward to getting to know the organisation better, meeting new colleagues and customers and helping to drive excellent service to our residents.”

Share
Was this article helpful?

Comments are closed.

Subscribe to get your daily business insights