Avon Protection Regulatory News (AVON)

Strictly embargoed until 07:00 on Wednesday 15 February 2017

AVON RUBBER p.l.c. ("Avon", the "Group" or the "Company")

Chief Executive Change

The Board announces that Paul McDonald has been appointed Group Chief Executive with immediate effect. 

Paul succeeds Rob Rennie, who has stepped down from the Board with immediate effect and left the Group to pursue other interests. The Board wishes Rob well for the future.

Prior to today's appointment Paul McDonald was Divisional Managing Director of Avon's Dairy division and a key member of the Group Executive management team. Paul joined the Group in 2003 and spent the early part of his career at Avon in commercial and operational roles which included responsibility for all UK operations and the European Protection & Defence and Dairy business units.

In 2007 Paul assumed responsibility for the Group's Dairy division, which he has transformed  from a manufacturer of rubber liners into a market leading technology driven company operating under the milkrite brand, with operations in Europe, the USA, Brazil and China. In 2015 Paul led the successful acquisition and integration of InterPuls S.p.A., which expanded the existing milkrite product range and positioned the Dairy division as a global milking-point technology brand, with continuing growth prospects.

As reported in the trading statement on 2 February 2017, the Group has made a positive start to the financial year and the Board remains confident of achieving current year expectations.

The process to appoint a permanent Group Finance Director is underway and this will be an early priority for Paul McDonald.

Paul McDonald said: "Avon Rubber is a very special company with high quality global businesses and an enviable history of engineering and innovation. It has a strong track record based on long term investment, excellent divisional management and a dedicated and talented workforce. I am very excited by the opportunity to take Avon into its next phase of growth." 

Commenting Chairman David Evans said: "Paul has a proven track record of commercial and operational success within Avon and has valuable knowledge and experience of the Group's markets and operations. He is well qualified to lead the Company going forward. Against the background of positive current trading reported to shareholders earlier this month, the Board has every confidence that the Group will continue to deliver a strong performance under his leadership."

Paul McDonald has a shareholding of 20,361 Avon shares. No further information is required to be disclosed pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.13 in respect of Paul McDonald's appointment as a director of Avon.

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Note to editors: The Group has transformed itself over recent years into an innovative design and engineering group, specialising in two core markets, Protection & Defence and Dairy. With a strong emphasis on research and development, we design, test and manufacture specialist products from a number of sites in the US and Europe, serving markets around the world. We achieve this through nurturing the talent and aspirations of our employees to realise their highest potential.

Avon Protection Systems is the recognised global market leader in advanced Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) respiratory protection systems for the world's military, homeland security, first responder, fire and industrial markets. With an unrivalled pedigree in mask design dating back to the 1920's, Avon Protection Systems' advanced products are the first choice for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) users worldwide and are placed at the heart of many international defence and tactical PPE deployment strategies. Our expanding global customer base now includes military forces, civil and first line defence troops, emergency service teams and industrial, marine, mineral and oil extraction site personnel. All put their trust in Avon's advanced respiratory solutions to shield them from every possible threat whether land, air or sea based.

Our world-leading Dairy supplies business and its Milkrite | InterPuls brand has a global market presence. With a long history of manufacturing liners and tubing for the dairy industry, we have become the leading innovator and designer for products and services right at the heart of milking. The acquisition of InterPuls in 2015, a specialist in electro-mechanical milking components, such as pulsators, milk meters, automatic cluster removers and milking clusters, has added significantly to our product range, making us the complete milking point solutions provider improving every farm we touch.

Working with leading scientists and health specialists in the global dairy industry, we continue to invest in technology to further improve the milking process and animal welfare. Our products provide exceptional results for both the animal and the milker, making the milk extraction process more efficient. As our market share and milking experience continue to improve, so does our global presence.

For further information please visit the Group's website: www.avon-rubber.com