Devro finance chief Simon Webb to leave next year

Sausage skin maker Devro has started the search for a new finance director after announcing that Simon Webb is to step down.

Devro finance chief Simon Webb is to leave the sausage skin maker next year

Webb, the former finance chief at banknote-printer De La Rue, joined the Moodiesburn-based firm in 2011 and is to leave by the end of November 2016 at the latest.

Devro chairman Gerard Hoetmer said Webb has made a “significant contribution” to the business, which in August reported a surge in half-year profits to £9.6 million, up from £1.6m a year earlier. The company has also cut about 130 roles north of the Border amid a shake-up of its operations in both Scotland and Australia.

“With the major restructuring of our manufacturing operations now reaching completion, with excellent banking facilities in place, and with a strong finance team established across the group, Simon has agreed that this is an appropriate time to move on to new challenges,” Hoetmer added.

Webb’s impending departure was announced as Devro said trading since the start of July has been in line with the board’s hopes, with “particularly strong” third-quarter sales volume growth in Japan, North America and China.

Work on building two new plans in the US and China was proceeding well, the firm said, with production set to begin at the US facility early next year.

Its new building in China is also complete and equipment installation is “well advanced”, with the factory on track to begin delivering commercial products in the latter part of 2016, Devro added.