Ashtead's finance director announces retirement

The Ashtead Group has announced that Ian Robson, the company's finance director since June 2000, will be retiring in July 2012. He will be succeeded by Suzanne Wood, who has been chief financial officer of Ashtead's wholly owned US subsidiary, Sunbelt, since 2004.

Ashtead said, "Ian has worked tirelessly on the company's behalf over the last eleven years and the financial strength of the company and its sound debt structure, which have served the company well through the recent recession are tributes to those efforts."

Of Ms Wood. Ashtead said, "Suzanne's in-depth knowledge of Sunbelt's business will be invaluable in enabling a seamless transition in July 2012."