Chemical firm Croda’s financial chief Sean Christie to step down

FTSE 250-listed chemicals manufacturer Croda announced yesterday that its finance chief would be stepping down next year.

Sean Christie, who has worked at the firm since 2006, will remain at Croda until April 2015 to facilitate the board’s search for his replacement.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the role and all its challenges, but have decided that this is the right time in my career to exploit my years of experience and build a portfolio of non-executive positions,” said Christie on his departure.

Croda is a global manufacturer of speciality chemicals, which counts Procter & Gamble, Unilever, L’Oreal and Estee Lauder among its customers.

“It has been an enormous privilege to work at Croda through such an extensive period of change,” added Christie.

Croda chairman Martin Flower said: “Sean has played a pivotal role at Croda for the past eight years during a strong period of growth for the company. In particular, he helped to oversee the transformational acquisition and subsequent integration of Uniqema in 2006.”

Croda said it would conduct “an extensive international search for Sean’s successor and an appointment will be announced in due course.” Croda’s shares closed 0.37 per cent up at 2,418p.