Hellaby Holdings today announced the appointment of Alan Clarke as its new CEO.

He joins the company in November 2015 and will also be appointed to the Hellaby board.

Clarke has been CEO and MD at NZSX-listed Abano Healthcare, an investor and operator in the private healthcare market in New Zealand, Australia and South East Asia, for the past 15 years. He announced last year his intention to step down from that role at this year’s Abano annual meeting in November 2015.

Hellaby chairman, Steve Smith, said, “The board is delighted that Alan has accepted the role. He brings with him strong management skills and a proven commercial track record. He has demonstrated an ability to realign organisational structure and build a high performing culture to achieve agreed strategies incorporating merger and acquisition activity.

“The new CEO search process has been very valuable for the board, providing an opportunity to reflect on Hellaby’s portfolio and investment strategy. The board’s view is that Hellaby has a strong foundation for future growth in the business sectors of its three buoyant core business units – automotive, equipment and oil and gas services. We recently divested Elldex Packaging and we have confirmed that the footwear business will also be divested at an appropriate time. There are good opportunities for Hellaby to deliver greater shareholder value by focusing on growth in our core business sectors.”

The appointment of Clarke follows the announcement in April 2015 that Hellaby’s CEO since 2007, John Williamson, would step down from the company with effect from its annual meeting on October 1.

“We are fortunate and grateful that under John Williamson’s leadership Hellaby has built strong foundations and is in excellent financial shape. The board and shareholders will have the chance to thank and acknowledge John at the Hellaby annual meeting,” said Smith.