The board of directors of Edwards has made changes to the company’s executive management, which are designed to build on its current record performance and prepare the company for its next phase of growth.
Nigel Hunton, who has been chief executive for the past four years, will take over the role of chairman with immediate effect.
Matthew Taylor (pictured) will become chief executive officer and David Smith chief financial officer. Taylor and Smith, who previously worked together in senior management positions at Jaguar Land Rover and Ford Europe, bring extensive international leadership experience to Edwards.
Taylor was most recently the group chief executive officer of J.C. Bamford Excavators, the construction equipment company, where he worked from 2006. Previously he spent over 20 years with Ford, culminating in his role as managing director of Land Rover. Taylor will start with Edwards on 7 June.
Smith brings 25 years’ blue-chip international experience with Ford and JLR, the last 13 years in chief financial officer of chief executive positions. Following time as chief financial officer of JLR, he went on to become chief executive of the business from 2008-2010, during which time he steered it s through the ownership transition from Ford to Tata. Prior to JLR, Smith was finance and business strategy director, Premier Auto Group and Ford Europe. He will join Edwards on 1 July.
As Edwards’ chairman, Hunton will continue his active involvement in the business, advising the board of directors and the new chief executive and focusing in particular on key customers, new product and market opportunities.
As part of these changes, the current finance director, Chris Bradley, has decided to leave the company.
Hunton says: “I am pleased to welcome Matthew and David to Edwards and look forward to working with them as we continue to deliver success for the company. 2010 is shaping up to be the best year in our 91 year history built on our restructuring actions, new products and new emerging markets. Edwards now has a broader and stronger management team to deliver successfully high technology solutions for our customers and capitalise on opportunities in all our markets.”
