Esh Group today announced the appointment of James Ramsbotham as Executive Vice Chairman as one of a number of changes to the Board including the retirement of current Chairman, Mr Michael Hogan.

Mr Ramsbotham returns to the North East to join Esh Group from Barclays Bank plc in London where he has held a number of senior management roles in the corporate banking division including, most recently, Director of Marketing, Larger Business.  Mr Ramsbotham, who originates from the North East, joined Barclays as a management trainee in 1989, progressing to become Corporate Banking Director in the North East in 1996 and Corporate Director for the West Midlands in 1999.  Before joining Barclays he served for 12 years as a commissioned officer in the Royal Green Jackets where he rose to the rank of Major.

Educated at Harrow, Durham University and Sandhurst, Mr Ramsbotham has recently completed business management courses at both INSEAD and Harvard business schools.  Amongst many other interests Mr Ramsbotham is a National Trustee of Common Purpose and Trustee of the North East regional charity, the Gillian Dickson Memorial Trust.  He is married with two children.

Michael Hogan, retiring as Chairman of the Group, becomes a Non-Executive Director.  Mr Hogan, who founded a number of companies within the Group, remains on the Board, joining existing Non-Executive Directors, Jack Lumsden and Tony Carroll who are also founder directors.

Austin Donohoe becomes Non-Executive Chairman.  A Non-Executive Director with Esh Group since 2001, Mr Donohoe is also Executive Director with St Cuthberts Care, a large regional charity and was previously a partner with Coopers & Lybrand and Deloitte Haskins & Sells, predecessor firms to Pricewaterhouse Coopers.

Commenting on the appointments, Brian Manning, Chief Executive of Esh Group, said,

'The changes we have announced are an important part of the ongoing development and expansion of our business.  We believe we are well placed strategically to consolidate existing businesses and develop new positions and we are very clear that our fundamental philosophy of re-investing in the North East is sound.  James' appointment is an important part of this maturing and strategic development.  I am confident that the wealth of experience and knowledge which he brings will be of great value and we are looking forward to working with him and welcoming him to the team.'