Fenner strengthens board with Surch appointment as NED

FENNER, the British-based manufacturer of industrial belting and related polymer-based products, has appointed former FirstGroup finance director Chris Surch as its latest NED.

Surch will take up the role on 1 May 2016 and will succeed John Sheldrick who is retiring after having spent almost six years with the company. He’ll chair the audit committee and become a member of the other committees of the board.

The 54-year-old, who retired from FirstGroup at the beginning of the year is a former group FD at Shanks Group and has held senior finance roles at Smith Group and TI Group.   A chartered accountant, Surch spent 12 years with PwC before he left to take up an executive role in 1995 with TI.

Mark Abrahams, executive chairman of Fenner, said: “We are delighted that Chris has accepted the non-executive director role, his proven track record as a group finance director and his strong international executive expertise will be a highly complementary fit to the board’s mix of skills and corporate experience.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank John Sheldrick for his excellent contribution to the board over the last 6 years and especially for his chairmanship of the Audit Committee.”