Avon appoints Rob Rennie as CEO
Rob joins Avon having held a number of senior positions at Invensys plc. His most recent role was President of the Energy Controls group, a division with annual sales in excess of $400m. This group included Eurotherm, the global supplier of industrial and process control, measurement and data management solutions, where Rob started his career and was ultimately appointed Managing Director. Rob was the driving force behind the evolution of Eurotherm and, as a member of the Invensys Executive Committee, was part of the team that successfully sold Invensys to Schneider Electric in 2014.
The appointment follows an in depth external search process which was led by the Chairman with the support of the Nominations Committee.
Avon also confirms that, as previously announced, Peter Slabbert retired from the position of Chief Executive on 30 September 2015. Andrew Lewis, the current Group Finance Director, has been appointed Interim Chief Executive with immediate effect until Rob joins the Group.
Commenting, David Evans, Chairman said: “I am delighted to welcome Rob to Avon and the Board looks forward to working with him. Rob has an impressive track record of leadership in growing customer and technology led engineering and services businesses. He has a strong commercial background in sales and marketing and this, along with his broad base of management skills makes him an excellent choice to lead Avon as CEO.
“Given Andrew’s experience as Group Finance Director over the last seven years I am confident that his appointment as Interim CEO places the Group in very capable hands for the next two months. He will be supported by a stable and experienced senior management team who have been an integral part of delivering Avon’s success over recent years.”
“Peter retires with our very best wishes and the Board expresses its gratitude to him for leading the turnaround and delivering the impressive growth seen during his seven years as CEO.”
Rob Rennie said: “Avon is a Company with a long and proud history and an exciting future. I am delighted to have been asked to take the CEO role.
Having committed to remain with Invensys under Schneider’s ownership for one year after the acquisition, I am joiningAvon refreshed and ready for a new challenge. The Group has innovative technologies and global market leading positions in both its businesses and I very much look forward to leading the next stage of its development.”
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With a strong emphasis on research and development it designs, tests and manufactures specialist products from a number of sites in the US and UK, serving markets around the world.
Avon Protection is the recognised global market leader in advanced chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) respiratory protection systems for the world’s military, homeland security, first responder, fire and industrial markets. With an unrivalled pedigree in mask design dating back to the 1920s, Avon Protection’s advanced products are the first choice for personal protective equipment (PPE) users worldwide and are placed at the heart of many international defence and tactical PPE deployment strategies. Our expanding global customer base now includes military forces, civil and first line defence troops, emergency service teams and industrial, marine, mineral and oil extraction site personnel. All put their trust in Avon’s advanced respiratory solutions to shield them from every possible threat.
