Devro chief stepping down after ten years

Devro boss Peter Page, one of the longest-serving Scottish plc chief executives, is stepping down after a decade at the helm of the food manufacturing business.

Page has agreed with the board that he will leave his role at the Moodiesburn sausage skin maker following the announcement of full-year results at the end of February.

Group finance director Rutger Helbing will take over and the firm said Page “will continue to be available in an advisory capacity as needed”. A search for Helbing’s successor is now underway.

Gerard Hoetmer, Devro’s chairman, said Page – who received a pay package of £513,000 last year – had made a “huge contribution” to Devro during the last ten years.

“He has turned the company into one of the world’s leading suppliers of collagen casings for food, with a network of world-class manufacturing facilities,” he said.

“We are delighted to have someone of Rutger’s calibre to succeed Peter and we are happy that, after having worked together for almost two years, there will be a smooth transition of leadership.”

Dutch national Helbing joined Devro in April last year from Element Six, a manufacturer of synthetic diamond supermaterials and had previously held senior positions with ICI/AKZO Nobel and Unilever.

Last month the company reported it is on track to meet annual cost-saving targets and forecasted full-year volume sales will be ahead of last year. Trading in the three months to 31 October was in line with expectations. 0 Peter Page: ‘Has made a huge contribution’