Gooch & Housego Regulatory News (GHH)

4 Sep 2006 07:02

Gooch & Housego PLC04 September 2006 For Immediate Release 4 September 2006 Gooch & Housego PLC Appointment of new Chairman Gooch & Housego PLC, the specialist manufacturer of optical components andsystems, today announces that Dr Julian Blogh will be joining the board asnon-executive Chairman with effect from 1st October 2006. Dr Blogh, aged 62, has a strong track record and background in the defenceelectronics industry. He led the management buy-out of seven Dowty defence andaerospace electronics businesses from the TI Group to form Ultra Electronics in1993, where he was Chief Executive. In 2004, he was appointed Deputy Chairmanand became Chairman a year later, a position he continues to hold. Dr Blogh will be the first independent Chairman of Gooch & Housego PLC, andtakes over from Gareth Jones, Chief Executive Officer, who has been ActingChairman since Mr Gooch stepped down in February 2005 due to ill health. Dr Blogh is a director of Ultra Electronics Holdings plc. There are no other disclosures required under Schedule Two (g) of the AIM rules. Gareth Jones, Chief Executive of Gooch & Housego, commented: "I would like to welcome Dr Blogh, who joins the Board at a very exciting timefor Gooch & Housego. Dr Blogh's extensive experience of developing a hightechnology business in an international, publicly-quoted environment will beinvaluable to Gooch & Housego PLC as it seeks to implement its growth strategyin the coming years and we look forward to working with him." Dr Blogh, commented: "I am pleased to be joining Gooch & Housego PLC at such an interesting time andI look forward to being able to contribute to the ongoing success of thecompany." Contacts: Gareth Jones, Chief Executive Officer, 01460 52271 Tim Thompson / Nicola Cronk, Buchanan Communications 020 7466 5000 Notes to Editors: Gooch & Housego is a manufacturer of acousto-optic and electro-optic devices,precision optical components, crystals, optical instruments and imaging systems.Based in Ilminster, UK, it has operations in the UK, USA and Germany. In severalof its activities Gooch & Housego is considered a world leader. The Queen'sAward for Enterprise: International Trade was conferred upon the UK businessearlier this year. In the last twelve months, Gooch & Housego has embarked on several majorinitiatives: - •A £5m construction project to build a new factory and headquarters building in Ilminster, UK. These facilities will double the space available for manufacturing, R&D and administration when completed next year. •The development of a range of advanced spectral imaging systems targeted at applications in biomedical and pharmaceutical research and medical diagnostics - an entirely new market sector for the group. •A internal reorganisation aimed at coordinating manufacturing, development, sales and marketing activities across four locations. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange