Wiltshire specialist manufacturer Avon Rubber is looking for a new finance boss following the announcement by its current group finance director Andrew Lewis that he is to leave the group.
Andrew, pictured, will oversee the preparation of Avon’s 2016 financial statements and step down on November 30 after eight years at the Melksham-based group, which makes gas masks and respirators for the military and emergency services and rubber products for the global dairy industry. 
Chairman David Evans said: “Andrew has been a key member of the executive team during a period where Avon has strongly repositioned itself.
“His stewardship of the group’s finances has placed it in a good position to take advantage of the many opportunities to continue its growth.”
Andrew was awarded the Finance Director of the Year Award at this year’s Quoted Company Awards in 2016.
Prior to joining Avon he gained a wide range of international experience as a director at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Bristol and New Zealand before joining Bath-based engineering group Rotork as group financial controller.
Avon has appointed Paul Rayner as interim group finance director with effect from December 1.
He has recently completed an interim assignment as chief financial officer at student accommodation Liberty Living, a £1bn business owned by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.
He has also been chief financial officer of Mouchel, an international infrastructure and business services group, for two-and-a-half years when he assisted in its to Kier Group in 2015 for £265m.
Prior to this, he was the finance director of engineering group Chemring, whose businesses include explosives manufacturer Chemring Energetics UK and naval equipment supplier Leafield Logistics & Technical Services – both based in Corsham – and Leafield Marine, which makes valves for life rafts and inflatable boats at Atworth, near Melksham
Mr Evans added: “I am delighted to be welcoming Paul to the Avon board on an interim basis whilst we conduct the search for a permanent replacement for Andrew.
“Paul has significant expertise in managing and delivering organic business growth and extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions. He is therefore an ideal fit for Avon at this stage in its development.”
Avon also said in a trading statement that its financial year had ended in line with the board’s expectations on both its Protection & Defence and Dairy businesses.
Last month it received an order for 15,000 mask systems which will be delivered in the first quarter of its new financial year, while it also said it expected to benefit from the continued increase in global milk prices.
Its balance sheet remained strong while good operating cashflow meant the year ended with net cash of £2m against net debt of £13.2m at the same time last year.
Avon’s full-year results for the year to September 30 will be announced on November 16.
