The
Board of Johnson Matthey Plc announces a number
of changes to its Board and succession planning
for the position of Group Chief Executive.
From
1st August 2003, Pelham Hawker, Division Director
Environmental Catalysts and Technologies, and Larry
Pentz, Division Director Process Catalysts and
Technologies will join the Board as executive directors.
The
Board has also been considering succession planning
at the most senior level. Chris Clark continues
as Chief Executive until the completion of the
Company’s Annual General Meeting in July
2004. He will then be succeeded by Neil Carson,
currently Executive Director, Catalysts and Precious
Metals.
Commenting
on these changes, Michael Miles, Chairman of Johnson
Matthey said:
“Chris
Clark has made and continues to make an outstanding
contribution to Johnson Matthey. With 41 years’ service,
including five as Chief Executive, Chris has overseen
the evolution of the business into a world-leading
speciality chemicals group. We are delighted that
he will continue in his role until July 2004 when
he will hand over to Neil Carson. Neil has 23 years
of experience of working at Johnson Matthey and
will make an excellent successor to Chris.
“We
also welcome Pelham Hawker and Larry Pentz to the
Board. Both have made important contributions to
recent developments at Johnson Matthey. Pelham
has overseen a period of strong growth and technological
change in our autocatalyst business. Larry has
undertaken a leading role in the successful integration
of Synetix since its acquisition from ICI. Both
will make valuable additions to the Board.
“We
are particularly pleased that all three of the
appointments we are announcing today have been
made internally”
Notes
to Editors
Chris
Clark joined Johnson Matthey in 1962
and was appointed to the Board in March 1990
before becoming Chief Executive in June 1998.
During his extensive career with the Company,
Chris has been responsible at a senior management
level for developments across all of the Company’s
businesses. Now aged 61, he began his tenure
as Chief Executive by undertaking a major strategic
review of the Group and has subsequently overseen
the transformation of Johnson Matthey into the
highly successful speciality chemicals company
it is today. He is a non-executive director of
Rexam plc and FKI PLC.
Neil
Carson, aged 46, has a BSc in Engineering
and joined Johnson Matthey in 1980. He was appointed
Division Director, Catalytic Systems in 1997
after having held senior management positions
in the Precious Metals Division as well as Catalytic
Systems in both the UK and US. Neil was appointed
Managing Director, Catalysts & Chemicals
in August 1999 and additionally assumed board
level responsibility for Precious Metals Division
in August 2002. He is a non-executive director
of Avon Rubber plc.
Pelham
Hawker, aged 50, has a PhD in inorganic
chemistry and joined Johnson Matthey as an R&D
Manager in 1985. He subsequently went on to be
Managing Director of Autocatalyst Europe before
being made Division Director, Environmental Catalysts
and Technologies in January 2001.
Larry
Pentz, aged 48, is a US citizen and
has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering.
He has been with Johnson Matthey for 19 years
and has held senior management positions in several
parts of the Catalysts Division. He was appointed
Division Director, Process Catalysts and Technologies
in January 2001.
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