Coats Group plc, the world’s leading industrial thread and consumer textile crafts business, has appointed Nicholas Bull as Senior Independent Director with immediate effect. He also joins the Audit and Risk Committee and the Nominations Committee.
Nicholas has over 30 years of banking experience. Until 2008 he was Managing Director, Head of UK Global Clients at ABN AMRO, and prior to that was Managing Director, Head of Consumer Sector M&A at Société Générale. He spent over 20 years at Morgan Grenfell (subsequently Deutsche Bank) and has worked in London, Sydney, Singapore and Hong Kong. He was a Director, then Chairman, of De Vere Group Ltd, the leisure and hospitality business, from 2010 until the completion of its asset disposal programme earlier this year.
Mike Clasper, Chairman, Coats Group plc, said: ‘I am delighted that Nicholas has joined the Coats Board. His extensive international banking experience, attained through various senior management and non-executive roles at global financial institutions, will further strengthen and broaden the mix of skills and experience of the Board, particularly in areas such as M&A and further developing our relationship with the UK institutional community.
‘The appointment of a Senior Independent Director also represents another important step in putting in place the appropriate governance structures to support a global manufacturing business with FTSE 250 aspirations.’
Nicholas Bull added: ‘I am extremely pleased to be joining the board of Coats Group plc so shortly after its return to stock market listed status. I look forward to working with the other Board members, executives and the business to contribute to its future growth.’
Additional background
Nicholas is currently Senior Independent Director of the investment trust, Fidelity China Special Situations plc. Previously he was Chairman of the Advisory Board of City stockbroker, Westhouse Securities and Chairman of Smith’s Corporate Advisory Limited. He is a trustee of the Design Museum and the Conran Foundation and also a member of Council of the University of Exeter.
Nicholas has a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Exeter and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
ENDS