City Briefs: Carillion; Hummingbird Resources; National Express

INFRASTRUCTURE and project management group Carillion has said board member Ceri Powell is to step down for the business.

Ms Powell, chair of the company’s sustainability committee, is also executive vice president for global exploration of Royal Dutch Shell.

She has advised the Carillion board that owing to an international relocation within Royal Dutch Shell she will be taking up the position of managing director of Brunei Shell Petroleum and will therefore stand down from the board with effect from March 31, 2017.

Commenting, Carillion chairman Philip Green said: “Ceri has made a significant contribution to Carillion since joining the Board in April 2014. Through her wise counsel and commitment to the Company’s success particularly in sustainability matters, Ceri has played a significant part in Carillion’s continued development.  Ceri stands down from the board with my personal thanks for her support, the grateful thanks of the board and our best wishes for the future.”   

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BIRMINGHAM-registered gold exploration company, Hummingbird Resources, has said it remains on target to deliver the first gold from its mining project in Mali by the end of this year.

Mine construction at the Yanfolila gold project is currently under way and progressing to schedule.

It has awarded the structural, mechanical, plate work and piping contract at Yanfolila to IMAGRI-SARL and a tower crane and pre-rolled carbon-in-leach (CIL) tanks have been delivered to the site.

Plant construction is planned to complete in Q4 2017, ahead of first gold pour by year-end.

Dan Betts, CEO of Hummingbird Resources, said: “We are making great progress on the ground and as a result we remain on schedule to deliver our first gold by the end of the year.  

“We are delighted to have appointed IMAGARI-SARL for the important SMPP contract having already seen their excellent results from the civil works on site.  Steel work has started to arrive and we are looking forward to seeing the CIL tanks being assembled in the near future.”

Mining analysts and investors are due to visit the mine next week to assess progress.

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BIRMINGHAM-based transport group, National Express, has announced the appointment of Matthew Ashley as CEO of its North America division, the largest in the company.

Replacing him as group finance director following his move will be Chris Davies, who is joining the company from motor dealership group, Inchcape.

Mr Ashley will remain an executive director of the company and continue as a member of the National Express board.
 
During his time as GFD, Mr Ashley, helped grow National Express’ market capitalisation by around 35% and most recently completed a successful bond refinancing that is delivering significant annual cost savings.
 
To ensure a smooth transition, following the National Express 2017 AGM on May 10, Mr Ashley will work alongside the existing CEO for North America, David Duke until September 1, 2017. After this date, he will assume the role full time.

Mr Duke is remaining with the business as a senior counsel supporting Mr Ashley as part of a long-planned phased retirement.
 
Mr Davies has been Group Financial Controller and Treasurer of Inchcape since 2013.

He will join National Express in early May and will initially work alongside Mr Ashley during a transition period, before taking up the role full time after the National Express 2017 AGM, after which he will also become an executive director.