Ex Cadbury finance chief set for new role with Portmeirion

Stoke-on-Trent pottery group Portmeirion has announced the appointment of a new finance director.

The manufacturer and worldwide distributor of brands including Portmeirion, Spode, Royal Worcester and Wax Lyrical has recruited Mike Raybould to the position, a man familiar with West Midlands industry and the retail sector.

Mr Raybould is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has 20 years of experience in senior financial positions.  He was most recently the Chief Financial Officer of the Europe, Middle East and Africa Floorcare Division of Techtronic Industries Company, a public company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

TTI has sales in excess of $5bn per annum and owns many of the leading global power tools and floorcare appliance brands such as Hoover, Dirt Devil, Oreck and Vax.

Prior to this, he held positions as Finance Director for Vax (now part of the TTI Group) and was Financial Controller for Bournville confectioner Cadbury in the days before its ownership by Kraft.

Mr Raybould, who will commence his new role on May 5, will succeed Brett Phillips who announced in February that he would be resigning as a director of Portmeirion on May 5 and retiring from the group on the same day.

Mr Raybould is expected to be appointed to the Portmeirion board shortly after the group’s AGM on May 25.

Lawrence Bryan, chief executive, Portmeirion, said: “I welcome Mike and congratulate him on his upcoming appointment.  I am delighted that he is joining our group. He brings sound experience in all financial matters, and has an acute understanding of branded businesses and international commerce through multiple channels which is highly relevant to the role.

“I would like to thank Brett for his outstanding contribution over the last 29 years.  The board wishes (him) a happy and fulfilling retirement.”