Pearce set to chair the Hundred Group

Rentokil finance director Christopher Pearce is to take over as chairman of the Hundred Group next spring.

Pearce, who will serve as deputy chairman until Brian Birkenhead’s term as chairman expires in November, is one of the group’s most active members, having headed its technical committee since the late 1980s. It will be an exciting time to take over the post, according to Pearce. “There are a number of important challenges for FDs, such as the question of a European currency and, more technically, the implications of the increasing role of the IASC on accounting standards.” Nigel Turnbull, finance director of the Rank Group, has replaced Pearce as chairman of the technical committee.

Phillip Adams has taken up the newly created role of UK vice president of finance for Hilton following a regional restructure. Adams was formerly finance director of Hilton National. In this new position he will be in charge of the nine Hilton International, 25 Hilton National and seven associate hotels in the UK.

Mike Knight has been named finance director for Pro-Bel Group, the signal routing equipment manufacturer recently acquired by Chyron Corporation. He replaces Ray Hartman who is joining Chyron Corporation’s board of directors and is now deputy chairman of Pro-Bel.

James Joll, former finance director of Pearson, has joined Phoenix group as a consultant. In this new position he will be primarily responsible for developing the corporate finance activities in the media sector.

Richard Harvey, the finance director of newly listed company Norwich Union, has been named company chief executive. Harvey, 46, will become one of the youngest chief executives of a major insurance company when he replaces Allan Bridgewater at the end of this year.

Christopher Martin, finance director of Bhs, has been named group finance director of the holding company, Storehouse. His appointment follows the departure of Dick Steele who will remain with the company until July. Martin will retain his Bhs role in addition to his group responsibilities.

Barbara Richmond has been appointed finance director of chemicals company Croda International to replace Richard Heseltine who steps down from the post this month. After nine years as Croda’s FD, Heseltine has decided to leave to pursue a career as a professional non-executive director. Richmond was previously group financial controller of instrumentation and controls company, Whessoe. Following Richmond’s departure, Whessoe has appointed Chris Lawrence as group finance director. Lawrence was previously the company’s group financial controller.

Gerard McCormack, finance director of YJ Lovell (Holdings), has joined the board of facilities management and construction group Amey as group finance director. His appointment follows the departure of David Cawthorne.

Stephanie White, formerly financial controller of the air charter broker Air London International, has been appointed finance director of the group. She takes over from Leslie Steward who will remain with the company in the capacity of non-executive director.

Kari Miettinen, deputy chief executive and chief financial officer of Amer, the Finnish sporting goods group, is resigning from the company 18 months after being involved in a public row which led to the dismissal of the previous chief executive. Miettinen, who will depart after completing the 1996 accounts in March says he is leaving for personal reasons. He stressed there were no disagreements between himself and the current chief executive, Roger Talermo.

Stuart Cruickshank has joined the board of McVitie’s as its finance director, replacing Jim Green. Cruickshank joins the company from United Biscuits’ sister company, KP Foods, where he was finance director. Green remains with the group as the UK finance development director for United Biscuits.

Peter Samengo-Turner is the new finance director of VTR, the film and television production group. He moves to the position from Molinare Visions and Dynatech Corporation in Europe.

Board changes at Inn Business, one of the smallest independent pub companies, has led to a promotion for Stephen Lambert, the company’s finance director. He takes up the role as managing director and is replaced by Columb Harrington, who joined the group last November.

Jerry Wedge has joined Wigan Borough Partnership, a joint public and private sector initiative aimed at supporting local business development, in the newly created role as finance director. He joins the partnership from a national charity, the NSPCC.

Angus Drever has been named managing director of Pitney Bowes, the mailing systems provider. Drever joins from Toshiba Information Systems, where he was director of the copier/fax division for the UK and Ireland.

Charles Price is leaving NM Rothschild & Sons after 25 years with the merchant bank, to join Singer & Friedlander as head of banking and treasury. Price was head of the merchant bank’s commercial and industrial lending and a member of its executive committee.

Appointment announcements can be faxed to Abigail Cooke 0171-316 9250.