On the Move - Gill a First Choice as United chief exec

MyTravel Group FD Kazia Kantor has quit her post after just 10 months.

Chief executive Peter McHugh said Kantor played a “vital part” in putting in place the refinancing of the company, and he is grateful for her seeing MyTravel through a difficult period. Turnaround specialist John Darlington steps in as interim CFO until a successor is found.

Ex-MyTravel group finance director Nick Wright is the new FD of the Welcome Break Group, following the departure of Ian Harris. Prior to MyTravel, Wright spent 17 years at Whitbread in a variety of senior financial roles.

Tesco group FD Andrew Higginson has added corporate strategy to his responsibilities, following a board reshuffle at the retailing giant. Higginson served as group FD of Laura Ashley and then as finance director of the Burton Group, prior to joining Tesco in 1997. He is a member of the Hundred Group of Finance Directors.

Royal & SunAlliance finance director Julian Hance has quit the financial services company, as the company attempts to raise £940m through a rights issue.

Another high-profile departure is Cable & Wireless FD David Prince, who retires at the end of 2003. Prince joined the company in 1981 and was named group FD in 2002. Siemens senior executive Charles Herlinger joins the group as CFO from 1 December 2003.

Football club Sheffield United has named Mark Fenoughty as finance director. Fenoughty is the former FD of Leicester City, where he spent four years, during which time the club had spells in the First Division and Premiership.

AstraZeneca CFO Jonathan Symonds has joined the Accounting Standards Board for a three-year period. Symonds is due to become chairman of the Hundred Group of Finance Directors in November, serves as a non-executive director at Qinetiq and still finds time to chair the Business Tax Forum.

Telewest Communications group FD Mark Luiz has stepped down, having served in the role for 12 months. Luiz previously worked at TV programming company Flextech until its merger with Telewest in 2000. Current deputy group FD Neil Smith takes over Luiz’ role on a permanent basis.

MID Kent Water has named former Charteris interim FD Jo Stimpson as finance director. Stimpson has held senior roles at International Computers, Beaumont House Properties and ICL.

Richard Amos has resigned as FD of consultancy firm Vega. A replacement will be named in due course.

Cheshire Building Society has appointed Andy Russell as finance director, and will focus on driving forward work on IAS and Basle II capital accord. Russell previously served at Portman Building Society, initially as financial controller and finally as chief executive of specialist lending subsidiary Sun Bank.

Sandra Hersh is the new finance director of Jewish Care, a health and social care charity for the Jewish community in the UK. Hersh was CFO and senior vice president at Virgin Interactive Entertainment between 1995 and 1997, and has served in senior roles with EMI Music and Touche Ross. She is working alongside the current Jewish Care FD, Henry Solomon, who retires at the end of 2003.

Huntleigh Technology has appointed Craig Smith as group finance director, while Julian Schild vacates the role to continue as chairman. Smith was previously FD of Sun Chemical Inks Europe. Before that, he was CFO at Paxar Europe.

Online retailer Confetti has named former UNIQLO finance director Tony Bennett as chief financial officer. Bennett has also served in senior financial roles at Gap, Selfridges and Superdrug.

Howle Holdings finance director Matthew Chaloner has taken over the role of chief executive, following the resignation of John Abell. Chaloner continues with his responsibilities as FD.

Optical filters manufacturer Zytronic has appointed former Ernst & Young partner Denis Mullan as finance director. Mullan has been associated with Zytronic for over 10 years, while specialising in corporate finance at E&Y.

Matthew Lonergan has quit as FD of telco consultancy IDN Telecom after just 12 months. The company’s head of finance, Steve Cox, replaces him. Cox has previously held senior financial roles at NTL and AT&T.

Workplace refurbisher Morgan Lovell has appointed FD Andrew Bradley to managing director.

Oliver Corbett is set to join insurance company SVB Holdings as group FD. Corbett is currently MD at Dresdner Kleinwort Benson.

Rugby club London Irish has named Peter Adams as director of finance and company secretary. Paul Theaker previously served as interim FD since February this year.

Ian Millar has left his role as finance and corporate resources director at the British Library after four years.

Real Affinity finance director Neil Muffitt has left the marketing and communications company to “pursue other business interests”.

David Shaw has been appointed FD of Nettec on a part-time basis. Shaw trained with Coopers & Lybrand and has more than 20 years of corporate finance experience.

Beaufort International FD Robin Abeyesinhe has left the consultancy firm after four years in the role. Alan Chamberlain is taking over the financial affairs of the group.

Gyrus Group FD Tom Murphy is returning to the US, due to his appointment as president of Gyrus Medical, from January 2004. Simon Shaw will take the role of CFO.