Ex-GSK finance chief Coombe stays longer as Hogg Robinson seeks new chair

SENIOR FINANCE CHIEF John Coombe is to keep the chairman’s seat warm for longer than intended at Hogg Robinson, after next-in-line Tony Isaac said he was unable to take the role.

Coombe (pictured), the former GlaxoSmithKline CFO who oversaw the merger between Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham, was due to step down from the chair role on 24 July. However his replacement Tony Isaac is stepping down from the board as a non-executive at the AGM due to personal reasons.

The corporate travel services business is now searching for a new chairman.

Coombe said: “Tony has been a long serving member of our board. We are disappointed that he can no longer take up the planned appointment as my successor, but I should like to thank Tony for his valuable contribution to Hogg Robinson over the past nine years.

“However, the company has reported good results for the financial year just ended and we will look forward to finding the best candidate to take over from me as chairman and to continue the company’s progress.”