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(Alliance News) - Camellia PLC on Monday said it appointed Byron Coombs as its new chief executive officer from September 25, replacing Chair & Interim CEO Malcolm Perkins.
The Kent-based agriculture and engineering services firm said Perkins' chair responsibilities will be taken over by Non-Executive Director Simon Turner as the company's new non-executive chair.
Perkins is set to retire at the end of November after 51 years with the company, Camellia said. He had assumed interim CEO responsibilities at the beginning of the month.
"Malcolm has provided outstanding leadership throughout the years; the company thanks him for his loyalty, contribution and commitment, and wishes him all the very best in his retirement," Camellia said.
On the incoming CEO, Camellia said: "Byron has extensive experience in the financial and investment management sectors and served as chief executive officer of the group's private bank, Duncan Lawrie, from 2014 until its sale in 2017, since when Byron has been employed by the group as investment director."
Coombs' appointment follows an "extensive" candidate search, Camellia said.
Camellia also noted Coombs is a non-executive director at Julius Baer International Ltd. He will resign from this position at the end of 2023.
An additional recruitment process is now underway to appoint a new non-executive director, following Turner's planned promotion to non-executive chair. This will take the number of non-executive directors on the board to three, Camellia said, of which one will be appointed senior independent director.
Shares in Camellia were untraded at 5,600 pence each in London on Monday afternoon. They last traded on Friday at 5,700p each.
By Greg Rosenvinge, Alliance News reporter
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