UK-based Tissue Converter Accrol Appoints Richard Newman as CFO

Accrol Group, one of the UK's leading independent tissue converters, has announced that it has reached formal agreement with Richard Newman FCA to take up the position of chief financial officer (CFO) and join the board of Accrol with effect from February 1, 2021.

Newman is a highly accomplished executive with 30 years' experience in senior finance roles at FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies, Cadbury PLC, National Express Group PLC and DS Smith PLC.

His career began at PwC in 1991, where he qualified as a chartered accountant. Richard joined Cadbury PLC in 1996, progressing to finance and IT director, Ireland, and, latterly, group financial controller. After 15 years with Cadbury, he took a new role as divisional finance director at National Express Group PLC, before joining DS Smith PLC in 2015, as UK finance director for packaging.

Richard is currently regional finance director for North Europe at DS Smith PLC, with commercial, operational, and corporate finance responsibilities across the UK, Germany, Benelux and the Nordics.

Dan Wright, executive chairman of Accrol, said, “Richard has worked with key members of our senior team here at Accrol, and his decision to join us, from a successful global, multi-billion-pound business, demonstrates the confidence he has in our ability to deliver on our plan. We are focused on building a diversified tissue and personal hygiene business of considerable scale organically and by acquisition and Richards's proven M&A and integration skills will be integral in the achievement of our ambitions."

Gareth Jenkins, CEO of Accrol added, "The building blocks for growth are now firmly in place at Accrol and the acquisition of Leicester Tissue Company in November, signalled our intentions for the Group. Richard will be key to the delivery of our growth plans and, having worked with him at DS Smith, I know first-hand the valuable skill set he will bring to the Group.
"He will help accelerate our significant expansion plans, building on the strong foundations put in place over the last three years, and the delivery of significant returns to our shareholders."

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