Speedy Hire recruits Hyder Consulting's FD

HYDER CONSULTING FD Russell Down is moving to Speedy Hire to fill its chief finance role.

Down, who has been FD at engineering consultancy Hyder since 2008, will join the equipment hire company on 6 April. A KPMG-qualified chartered accountant, worked as director of accounting at Cronos before joining Hyder 17 years ago.

Speedy Hire CEO Mark Rogerson, said that Down has a “strong financial and commercial track record”, and in-depth experience of the plc environment.

“Speedy will benefit from his highly analytical and focused approach and I very much look forward to working with him.”

In October, the construction equipment rental business appointed a new chairman with finance experience and handed esponsibility over its finance function to its financial controller following the departure of finance director Lynn Krige.

Last year, the  company announced that it had suffered a £2.7m charge on accounting irregularities discovered in 2013, with Deloitte and law firm Addleshaw Goddard brought in to conduct an independent legal and forensic investigation in addition to an internal company review.

The irregularities “were the result of deliberate actions of a small number of employees, who have now left he business”, the review said. Following the discovery, the international division FD was suspended last year.