(Adds detail, background)
LONDON, June 9 (Reuters) - Rolls-Royce said that
Anita Frew would succeed Ian Davis as chair on Oct. 1 2021,
making her the first woman to chair the British aero-engine
company when Davis retires after nine years in the role.
Frew, 63, is currently chair of science and chemicals group
Croda and a non-executive director of mining giant BHP
Group.
Rolls-Royce's senior independent director Kevin Smith said
that Frew was the clear choice to lead the group as he thanked
Davis for his service.
"The company conducted a comprehensive search and Anita
emerged as the outstanding candidate," Smith said in a statement
from Rolls on Wednesday.
She joins Rolls-Royce as it seeks to recover from the
pandemic. Much of its income from airline customers dried up
last year when travel stopped and it has cut costs, taken on
debt and raised equity to survive.
Frew joins the board on July 1.
(Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Alistair Smout)