Female first for Stobart’s board

THE embattled owner of Southend Airport has appointed a woman to the board.

Stobart Group was criticised as one of the few FTSE 350 groups with only men in charge.

Ginny Pulbrook, 60, will join as a non-executive director as part of a board-room shake-up following damaging infighting.

She is partner at City PR firm Camarco and cofounded rival firm Citigate Dewe Rogerson.

Stobart Group has been rocked by a spat with former chief executive Andrew Tinkler, 55, who was fired from the board this year after trying to oust chairman Iain Ferguson. The board is now suing him for alleged breaches of fiduciary duty.

Alongside Pulbrook, Stobart has also promoted Nick Dilworth, 45, to chief operating officer. He joins the board as an executive director.

Michael Williamson, 61, will be interim finance boss. He previously held the same role at Gama Aviation. Stobart has hired search firm Russell Reynolds to look for a chairman, senior independent director, and non-executive director.