Smiths News appoints Paul Baker as CFO

Baker succeeds Tony Grace, whose departure was announced in May and who is expected to step down from the board at the end of November. Until then, Grace will continue as a director of the company to support the board through an appropriate handover period and the finalisation of the current financial year's audited results. .

Smiths said Baker is a "highly experienced" senior executive, with "extensive and relevant" financial and business transformation experience, most recently as integration director at catering group Compass. Prior to that, he held various regional and divisional finance director roles within each of Compass, Iglo Group/ Birds Eye and Cadbury Schweppes.

Chairman David Blackwood said: "I am delighted to welcome Paul to Smiths News as chief financial officer. He brings with him a track record of delivering strategic and operational change in fast moving environments and is expected to further enhance and broaden the executive team's capability and experience.

"As a board, we look forward to working with Paul and would also like to wish Tony a happy and healthy forthcoming retirement."