(Alliance News) - Morgan Advanced Materials PLC on Wednesday named former John Wood Group PLC chair and SSE PLC chief executive officer Ian Marchant as its new chair.

The Windsor, England-based specialist industrial product manufacturer said Marchant will join the board as a non-executive director on February 1. He will succeed Douglas Caster as the company's chair after its 2023 Annual General Meeting.

Caster was appointed as chair of Morgan Advanced Materials back in 2018, joining from defence, security, transport and energy company Ultra Electronics Holdings PLC.

Marchant is currently chair of Thames Water Utilities Ltd and Logan Energy Ltd.

Between 2014 and 2019, he was chair of John Wood Group. John Wood is an energy sector-focused engineering and consulting business based in Aberdeen, Scotland.

From 2002 to 2013, Marchant was chief executive of SSE, a Perth, Scotland-based electricity utility. Prior to this he was the finance director of SSE and Southern Electric PLC.

Senior Independent Director Laurence Mulliez said: "After a comprehensive search process, Ian was the stand-out candidate, chosen by the Board due to his exceptional experience, his insightful and strategic leadership and his valuable commercial expertise.

"Ian's appointment will enable a smooth transition ahead of Douglas completing his nine-year tenure on the board. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Douglas for the outstanding contribution he has made to Morgan," Mulliez continued.

Shares in Morgan were down 1.1% to 318.93 pence each in London on Wednesday morning.

By Sophie Rose, Alliance News reporter

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