Victrex announces upcoming appointment of Louisa Burdett to Board as new CFO

– UK – Victrex plc today announces that Steve Barrow will stand down from the Board as Group Finance Director, effective 31 January 2014. After 19 years’ service, Steve will leave the Group on 31 May 2014, following a handover period with his successor.

Victrex is pleased to announce that Louisa Burdett will succeed Steve as Group Finance Director. Louisa is an accomplished senior finance executive and was until recently Group Finance Director of Optos plc and has held senior finance roles with Financial Times Group and Amersham plc.

David Hummel, Chief Executive of Victrex, said: “I would like to thank Steve for his significant contribution to Victrex over 19 years. Steve has helped Victrex build a strong financial footing for the business, with a robust balance sheet, strong cash generation and an ability to invest and underpin our future growth. I want to pass on my personal thanks to Steve and I know all of our colleagues at Victrex will be sorry to see him go, but will wish him well in his future career.”

Steve Barrow, Group Finance Director of Victrex, said: “After 19 very enjoyable years at Victrex, I have reached a point where I am ready for a completely new challenge. I want to thank all of my colleagues, past and present, for their support over the years, and wish them every success in the future.”

Louisa Burdett will join Victrex as Group Finance Director designate on 2 January 2014. She will then step up to the Board as Group Finance Director and Chairman of the Currency Committee on 31 January 2014, after Steve steps down from the Board on that date. Steve will support Louisa during a handover period and will then remain as an employee of Victrex until 31 May 2014.

Anita Frew, Chairman of Victrex, said: “I am delighted to welcome Louisa as Steve’s successor. Louisa is a highly experienced Group Finance Director across a number of sectors, and brings experience of operating at a senior level in a public company. I look forward to working with her.”

About Victrex:

Victrex is an innovative world leader in high performance polymers. Every day, millions of people rely on products or applications which contain our materials, from smartphones, aeroplanes and cars to oil & gas operations and medical devices. With over 30 years’ experience, we are investing in technology leadership to deliver new solutions to our customers and our markets.

About Louisa Burdett

She was Chief Financial Officer and an Executive Director at Optos plc from June 2012 to July 2013. Prior to Optos, Louisa was Chief Financial Officer at the Financial Times Group from 2008 to 2012. She has also held roles at Chep Europe, a division of Brambles Ltd, the Australian listed pallet distribution company, GE Healthcare (formerly Amersham plc) and GlaxoSmithKline plc. Louisa has also worked as an M&A Consultant at Charterhouse Bank and spent four years at KPMG in London. She has a first class degree in Biochemistry from Imperial College, London and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.

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