Board Changes

RNS Number : 6047K

IMI PLC

23 August 2012

 



23 August 2012

IMI plc ("IMI" or "the Group")

Board Changes

IMI, the international engineering group, today announces the appointments of Carl-Peter Forster and Phil Bentley as non-executive directors with effect from 1 October 2012. 

Carl-Peter Forster is an engineer by background with a distinguished career in the automotive industry. He was Chief Executive of Tata Motors, India's largest automotive manufacturer, until September 2011.  Prior to this he held a number of senior management positions with BMW and General Motors, where he was head of European operations. He previously served as a non-executive director of Rolls Royce Group plc. 

Phil Bentley is currently Managing Director of British Gas and a main board director of its parent company Centrica plc.  Phil joined Centrica in 2000 as Group Finance Director, a position he held until 2007 when he was appointed to his current role. He previously served as a non-executive director, and Chairman of the Audit Committee, of Kingfisher plc, the international home improvement retailer between 2002 and 2010.

These appointments follow a comprehensive search process led by the Chairman, Roberto Quarta.  The board regards both Carl-Peter and Phil as independent directors in terms of the UK Corporate Governance Code.   Carl-Peter will join the Remuneration and Nominations Committees.  Phil will join the Audit and Nominations Committees.

Kevin Beeston will retire as a non-executive director of the Group on 30 September 2012 after seven years on the Board. 

Ian Whiting, Executive Director, has stepped down from the Board and will be leaving IMI plc to resume his career in the US.   As a result, his executive responsibilities have been transitioned with immediate effect, to Martin Lamb who takes direct control of M&A and Emerging Markets and Roy Twite who assumes responsibility for the Group's procurement function, in addition to their existing roles.

Commenting on the changes Roberto Quarta, Chairman of IMI, said:

"On behalf of the board I would like to thank Kevin for his valuable contribution over the last seven years.  We will miss his considered judgment and wise counsel. However, I am delighted that Carl-Peter and Phil are joining the board. They both have tremendous international business experience and I am sure that we will benefit from their respective expertise as we strengthen and grow our businesses around the world.

I would also like to thank Ian for his valuable contribution to CCI and IMI over the past seven years and for his more recent role in successfully driving our M&A agenda and our growth initiatives in emerging markets.  I wish him well in the next steps he takes in developing his career on returning to the US with his family."

There are no further matters to be disclosed pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.13.

In a separate announcement, IMI has this morning released its Interim Financial Report for the six months ended 30 June 2012.

Enquiries to:

Will Shaw                                                        IMI                                Tel:      [phone]

Rollo Head / Charlie Chichester                     RLM Finsbury              Tel:      [phone]

Notes to editors:

IMI is a global engineering group focused on the precise control and movement of fluids in critical applications.  It works with leading international companies in over 50 countries to deliver innovative engineering solutions, built around valves and actuators, to address global trends such as climate change, resource scarcity, urbanisation and an ageing population.  Its shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange and it is a member of the FTSE100.  Further information is available at www.imiplc.com.

Biographical information:

Carl-Peter Forster

Carl-Peter Forster has worked in the automotive industry for over 25 years.  He was most recently Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Tata Motors Ltd from February 2010 to September 2011. Prior to this he held a number of senior management positions with both General Motors and BMW.   He started his career in 1982, as a Consultant for McKinsey & Company in Munich.

He has a Diploma in Economics from the Bonn University and a Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering from Technical University in Munich.

He previously served as a non-executive director of Rolls Royce Group plc between 2003 and 2006.

Phil Bentley

Phil Bentley has been Managing Director of British Gas since March 2007 and on the main Board of Centrica since November 2000. Employing 28,000 people in the UK, British Gas is the Number 1 energy and services provider to British homes and businesses. Previously, he was Group Finance Director and Managing Director, Europe for Centrica.

Phil joined Centrica from Diageo where he was Global Finance Director for Guinness-UDV. Prior to that he was Group Treasurer and Director of Risk Management of Diageo plc.  Prior to Diageo, Phil spent 15 years at BP in a number of senior finance roles. 

He holds a Masters Degree from Pembroke College, Oxford University and has an MBA from INSEAD in France. When Group Finance Director, Phil was a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and a member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers.

He served as a non-executive director, and Chairman of the Audit Committee, of Kingfisher plc, the international home improvement retailer between 2002 and 2010. 

 

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