CFO moving from vet pharmaceuticals firm to entertainment group

PHARMACEUTICALS group Dechra has announced that its chief financial officer, Anne-Francoise Nesmes, is to step down from the business to join Merlin Entertainments, owner of Alton Towers.



Cheshire-based echra said she would relinquish her position on the board and leave the business on July 31, 2016 so she could take up the equivalent role at Merlin.



Mike Redmond, Dechra chairman, said: “Anne-Francoise joined Dechra in 2013 and during her tenure, she has developed the financial strategy of the group and introduced efficient tax and treasury solutions, accelerating the development of the finance function; she has recruited talented individuals strengthening our expertise and creating a knowledgeable team of people across the business.

“Having strength and depth in our finance organisation puts Dechra in a great position to support its growth strategy.”


Nesmes added: “I have enjoyed my time at Dechra as I joined at an exciting time when the company accelerated its growth, expanded internationally and focused on becoming a pure pharmaceutical player. 

“I will leave Dechra in a strong position and I wish the team well in the future development of the business.”


Nesmes previously worked for GlaxoSmithKline in a number of senior finance roles including senior vice-president of Finance of GSK Vaccines Belgium and vice-president & finance controller for GSK Europe.

She has also held finance roles in Caterpillar, ADP, Tetra Pak, and John Crane.
 
The board has begun the process of finding her successor and said it would update the markets in due course.



Once at Merlin, Nesmes will succeed Andrew Carr, whose intention to retire was announced in January. 

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Carr will remain in post until her arrival and continue to be employed for a period after Ms Nesmes’ appointment as part of a handover process.



Sir John Sunderland, chairman of Merlin, said: “We look forward to welcoming Anne-Françoise to the board later in the year. Her extensive finance and international experience will enable her to make a significant contribution to our business as we continue to grow.”

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