EXECUTIVE CHANGES: Fresnillo chair steps down; Airtel Africa picks CEO

Thu, 29th Apr 2021 16:52

(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of London-listed company director and manager changes announced on Thursday and not separately reported by Alliance News:

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Fresnillo PLC - gold and silver miner in Mexico - Alberto Bailleres steps down as chair and from board, effective immediately, but will remain as honorary president of Fresnillo. Alberto Bailleres, who is 89 years old, holds a 74.99% stake in Fresnillo, according to Morningstar. He will be replaced by Alejandro Bailleres, who is 60 and currently deputy chair. Fresnillo also proposes to add Hector Rangel as independent non-executive director and Eduardo Cepeda as non-executive director, both from the annual general meeting on June 24. Rangel is president of BCP Securities Mexico, a joint venture with US investment bank BCP Securities LLC. Cepeda was president & senior country officer at JP Morgan Chase & Co, based in Mexico City from 1993 to 2019. His an adviser to the BAL Group, so won't be considered an independent director.

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Airtel Africa PLC - provider of telecommunications and mobile money services in 14 African countries - Promotes Segun Ogunsanya to managing director & chief executive officer, replacing Raghu Mandava, who is retiring. Ogunsanya currently is MD & CEO for Nigeria, having joined Airtel Africa in 2012. He will join the board of the parent company on October 1. Chief Financial Officer Jaideep Paul also will join the board as an executive director from June 1. A new head of Nigeria will be announced soon, Airtel Africa says.

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Esken Ltd - London-based aviation and energy infrastructure group formerly known as Stobart - Warwick Brady will step down from board and stop being chief executive on Friday, but will provide part-time support until June 30. Esken announced Brady's departure back in February, and Non-Executive Chair David Shearer moved to executive chair on an interim basis at that time.

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Barratt Developments PLC - Leicestershire-based housebuilder - Senior Independent Director Richard Akers will stand down from the board on Tuesday next week, having served for nine years.

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Rank Group PLC - Maidenhead, Berkshire-based casino operator - Hires Katie McAlister as non-executive director, starting immediately. McAlister is chief marketing officer for Tui Northern Region within holiday operator Tui AG.

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XP Power Ltd - Singapore-based maker of power controllers, which convert power from the electricity grid into the form needed by industrial equipment - Hires Oskar Zahn as chief financial officer, starting on Tuesday next week and joining the board on May 20. Zahn replaces Gavin Griggs, who was promoted to chief executive officer at the beginning of the year. Zahn was CFO of medical devices and industrial adhesives maker Scapa Group PLC from 2018 until its acquisition by paper materials manufacturer Schweitzer-Mauduit International Inc, which was completed earlier this month.

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Ten Entertainment Group PLC - Bedford, England-based tenpin bowling centre operator - Hires Laura May as non-executive director, starting Thursday next week. May is an accountant who is director of Tax & Treasury at gym chain Pure Gym. Ten Entertainment last week said Senior Independent Director Adam Bellamy will become non-executive chair at the May 5 annual general meeting. Bellamy was CFO of Pure Gym.

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Ergomed PLC - Guildford, England-based pharmaceutical services firm - Hires Llew Keltner as non-executive director, starting immediately, while Ian Johnson will step down as non-executive director "to focus on his other board roles". Keltner has over 30 years experience in the life sciences sector, Ergomed says, including as chair of Raptor Pharmaceuticals Inc.

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Morses Club PLC - Nottingham, England-based home collected credit provider and online lender - Hires Sheryl Lawrence and Michael Yeates as independent non-executive directors and promotes Chief Operating Officer Gary Marshall to executive director, all from May 1. Lawrence is an accountant who held senior roles at a number of banks and financial services firms, including Barclays PLC, Lloyds Banking Group PLC and Provident Financial PLC. Yeates was general manager of lender Cheltenham & Gloucester PLC.

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Gem Diamonds Ltd - Letseng diamond mine in Lesotho - Hires Rosalind Kainyah as independent non-executive director, starting May 1. Kainyah is founder & managing director of Kina Advisory Ltd, which advises companies on sustainability and and responsible business investment and partnerships in emerging markets. Meanwhile, Johnny Velloza, former deputy CEO of Gem Diamonds, will step down from the board, also from May 1, but will remain a technical consultant to Gem.

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AEX Gold Inc - gold exploration and mine development in Greenland - Promotes CFO Jaco Crouse to executive director, starting immediately and replacing Robert Menard. Crouse joined AEX Gold in January.

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Iconic Labs PLC - London-based media and technology company - Brendan O'Mahony steps down as non-executive director, effective immediately. Seeking replacement.

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Checkit PLC - Cambridge-based workflow management software provider - Non-Executive Director Rachel Neaman won't stand for re-election at June 3 AGM "to give her more time to pursue her other commitments". Intends to recruit a replacement.

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By Tom Waite; thomaslwaite@alliancenews.com