IMI, the international engineering group, today announces the appointments of Carl-Peter
Forster and Phil Bentley as non-executive directors with effect from 1 October 2012.
Carl-Peter Forster is an engineer by background with a distinguished career in the automotive
industry. He was Chief Executive of Tata Motors, India’s largest automotive manufacturer, until
September 2011. Prior to this he held a number of senior management positions with BMW and
General Motors, where he was head of European operations. He previously served as a nonexecutive
director of Rolls Royce Group plc.
Phil Bentley is currently Managing Director of British Gas and a main board director of its parent
company Centrica plc. Phil joined Centrica in 2000 as Group Finance Director, a position he
held until 2007 when he was appointed to his current role. He previously served as a nonexecutive
director, and Chairman of the Audit Committee, of Kingfisher plc, the international
home improvement retailer between 2002 and 2010.
These appointments follow a comprehensive search process led by the Chairman, Roberto
Quarta. The board regards both Carl-Peter and Phil as independent directors in terms of the
UK Corporate Governance Code. Carl-Peter will join the Remuneration and Nominations
Committees. Phil will join the Audit and Nominations Committees.
Kevin Beeston will retire as a non-executive director of the Group on 30 September 2012 after
seven years on the Board.
Ian Whiting, Executive Director, has stepped down from the Board and will be leaving IMI plc to
resume his career in the US. As a result, his executive responsibilities have been transitioned
with immediate effect, to Martin Lamb who takes direct control of M&A and Emerging Markets
and Roy Twite who assumes responsibility for the Group’s procurement function, in addition to
their existing roles.
Commenting on the changes Roberto Quarta, Chairman of IMI, said:
“On behalf of the board I would like to thank Kevin for his valuable contribution over the last
seven years. We will miss his considered judgment and wise counsel. However, I am delighted
that Carl-Peter and Phil are joining the board. They both have tremendous international
business experience and I am sure that we will benefit from their respective expertise as we
strengthen and grow our businesses around the world.
I would also like to thank Ian for his valuable contribution to CCI and IMI over the past seven
years and for his more recent role in successfully driving our M&A agenda and our growth
initiatives in emerging markets. I wish him well in the next steps he takes in developing his
career on returning to the US with his family.”
There are no further matters to be disclosed pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.13.
In a separate announcement, IMI has this morning released its Interim Financial Report for the
six months ended 30 June 2012.
| Enquiries to: |
|
|
| Will Shaw |
IMI |
Tel: +44 (0)121 717 3712 |
| Rollo Head / Charlie Chichester |
RLM Finsbury |
Tel: +44 (0)20 7251 3801 |
Notes to editors:
IMI is a global engineering group focused on the precise control and movement of fluids in
critical applications. It works with leading international companies in over 50 countries to deliver
innovative engineering solutions, built around valves and actuators, to address global trends
such as climate change, resource scarcity, urbanisation and an ageing population. Its shares
are listed on the London Stock Exchange and it is a member of the FTSE100. Further
information is available at www.imiplc.com.
Biographical information:
Carl-Peter Forster
Carl-Peter Forster has worked in the automotive industry for over 25 years. He was most
recently Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Tata Motors Ltd from February
2010 to September 2011. Prior to this he held a number of senior management positions with
both General Motors and BMW. He started his career in 1982, as a Consultant for McKinsey &
Company in Munich.
He has a Diploma in Economics from the Bonn University and a Diploma in Aeronautical
Engineering from Technical University in Munich.
He previously served as a non-executive director of Rolls Royce Group plc between 2003 and
2006.
Phil Bentley
Phil Bentley has been Managing Director of British Gas since March 2007 and on the main
Board of Centrica since November 2000. Employing 28,000 people in the UK, British Gas is
the Number 1 energy and services provider to British homes and businesses. Previously,
he was Group Finance Director and Managing Director, Europe for Centrica.
Phil joined Centrica from Diageo where he was Global Finance Director for Guinness-UDV.
Prior to that he was Group Treasurer and Director of Risk Management of Diageo plc.
Prior to Diageo, Phil spent 15 years at BP in a number of senior finance roles.
He holds a Masters Degree from Pembroke College, Oxford University and has an MBA
from INSEAD in France. When Group Finance Director, Phil was a fellow of the Chartered
Institute of Management Accountants and a member of the Association of Corporate
Treasurers.
He served as a non-executive director, and Chairman of the Audit Committee, of Kingfisher
plc, the international home improvement retailer between 2002 and 2010.