The Board of Smiths Industries has been strengthened by recent appointments. Lawrence Kinet (52), a US citizen with broad international experience in the heathcare sector, joined as an executive in February. He will take over as head of Medical Systems following the retirement of George Kennedy CBE in August. John Ferrie (53), a UK citizen currently responsible for a major Rolls Royce business unit in North America, will join the company as an executive in April. He will succeed Norman Barber as head of Aerospace from the start of the next financial year. Julian Horn-Smith (51), a UK citizen and Chief Executive of Vodafone Air Touch International, joined as a non-executive in February.

Keith Orrell-Jones Chairman Keith Butler-Wheelhouse Chief Executive Norman Barber Chairman, Aerospace Peter Hollins Non-executive director Julian Horn-Smith Non-executive director George Kennedy CBE Chairman, Medical Systems Lawrence Kinet Executive Director Roger Leverton Non-executive director Einar Lindh Chairman, Industrial Robert O'Leary Non-executive director Alan Pink Non-executive director Alan Thompson Financial Director