ECM.L Regulatory News (ECM)

25 May 2005 07:03

Electrocomponents PLC25 May 2005 Embargoed to 7:01am, Wednesday 25 May 2005 ELECTROCOMPONENTS PLC ANNOUNCEMENT Group Finance Director (designate) Electrocomponents plc is pleased to announce that Simon Boddie will be joiningthe Company as Group Finance Director (designate) on 1 July 2005. Simon is 45 years old and joins from Diageo, where his recent role was FinanceDirector of Key Markets. Simon qualified as a chartered accountant with Price Waterhouse and in 1986joined the Corporate Finance Department of Hill Samuel. In 1992 he moved toUnited Distillers as Senior Business Development Manager and then took on therole of Finance Director of their International Region. Following the mergerbetween Guinness and Grand Metropolitan to form Diageo, Simon has had a numberof senior finance roles within the group including Finance Director of GuinnessGreat Britain, Finance Director of UDV's Europe Region and Finance Director ofGlobal Supply. As announced on 22 March 2005, Jeff Hewitt, the Group Finance Director, informedthe Company of his intention to seek early retirement from the Board in order toextend his range of non-executive directorships. Jeff has been Finance Directorfor 9 years and has played a major role in strengthening and developing thefinancial management, business systems and investor relations activity of theGroup. Jeff will be staying with the Company to ensure a comprehensive and successfulhandover to Simon, who will then be appointed Group Finance Director on 1September 2005. Bob Lawson, Chairman of Electrocomponents, commented: "We are delighted with Simon's appointment. His experience and knowledge ofchanging international markets will be of direct benefit to the Group. We areall looking forward to working with him in the future. Jeff has been atremendous colleague and mentor to all in the Group who have had the pleasure ofworking with him, and we wish him continued success in his new careerdirection." This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange