Webb to take on top finance job at Devro

A FORMER finance director at banknote printer De La Rue is to join Moodiesburn-based sausage skin maker Devro as its chief bean counter.

Simon Webb, who stood down from De La Rue in May, will replace Peter Williams, who will retire on 6 April.

Webb - who qualified as a chartered accountant in 1990 while working for Pricewaterhousecoopers - joins Devro's board on 17 January so that he can have a hand-over period with Williams, whose retirement was announced last month.

His previous roles have included senior financial positions at British American Tobacco, Threadneedle, Paxar and Enodis.

He holds an economics degree from Exeter University.

Chairman Steve Hannam said: "Simon Webb brings to Devro valuable experience of managing the finance function within an international manufacturing business.

"I am very confident that he will make a significant contribution to the group as we build on the considerable success of the past three years."

Williams has served as group finance director since May 2008.

Hannam added: "Peter has been with the company during a period of quite exceptional growth, and we thank him for his considerable contribution.

"He leaves with our best wishes for the future."

In August, Devro unveiled a 56 per cent jump in interim pre-tax profits to 17.1 million after the firm sold more higher-margin products.