by Catherine Woods - Wednesday, 5th November 2008 -

New finance directors have been appointed at Warner Estate Holdings, Laura Ashley, Solar Integrated Technologies and Summit Corporation.

Gary Cowdrill, group finance director of West Bromwich Building Society, is to take early retirement. He will remain in his position until a successor has been appointed.

Mark Keogh has been appointed finance director of Warner Estate Holdings. He is currently deputy finance director for the property fund management company. Keogh will succeed Peter Collins on 20 November 2008.

David Cook has resigned as finance director of Laura Ashley. Cook will not be replaced on the board but his operational responsibilities will be covered by Rebecca Navarednam, the chief financial officer and company secretary, when he leaves the company in early December.

Jim Balas has been appointed interim chief financial officer of Solar Integrated Technologies, which provides integrated photovoltaic roofing systems. It follows the departure of John Palumbo. Balas has been vice-president of finance at Solar Integrated since March 2006.

Tony Weir has been appointed chief financial officer of biotechnology company Summit Corporation. Weir will join the company on 17 November from another biotech firm, Vernalis, where he has been CFO for almost ten years.

Eric Dodd has been appointed chief financial officer of cancer drug development firm Antisoma. He was previously group FD at Morse, a consulting, IT services and technology company. Raymond Spencer, Antisoma's current CFO, will become corporate development director and will remain on the board.

Dominique de la Roche has been appointed finance director of MDM Engineering. He joins the company from Rockwell Diamonds where he was chief financial officer.

Ian Miscampbell has resigned as finance director of natural healthcare company William Ransom & Son. Ran Oren has been appointed as interim FD, pending completion of the recruitment of a full time replacement.

Zane Kerse has been appointed finance director of Private and Commercial Finance. Kerse has been the group's financial controller since 2001; he succeeds Scott Maybury who has been made chief executive.

Kevin Rountree has been appointed chief financial officer of Games Workshop. Rountree has been with the company for ten years. Meanwhile, Rachel Tongue, who has been with Games Workshop for 12 years, has been appointed company secretary.

Robert McDonald has been appointed chief financial officer of Woolworths, replacing Stephen East. East will remain with the company for a period to ensure a smooth and efficient handover. McDonald was previously group finance director of Punch Taverns.

Po Ling Low has been appointed finance director of West China Cement. Low joins the firm from a Beijing-based investment company. She replaces Zhenzun Tian.

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