Coats Group appoints Nichols new CFO as Callaway prepares to depart ‘by mutual agreement’

Coats Group has appointed a new chief financial officer, Hannah Nichols, who is expected to join the industrial threads and components specialist as CFO designate on 24 April.

That means current CFO Jackie Callaway is to leave “by mutual agreement” after four and a half years in the role. But she won’t be stepping down until after the company’s the AGM on 21 May and until then, Callaway “will assist with an orderly transition to 30 June”.

Nichols takes up the post following the usual comprehensive selection process and will join the board as executive director/CFO from 21 May.

She joins from FTSE 250 international industrial group Hill & Smith where she has been CFO since 2019. Prior to this, she worked at BT Group and has over 20 years’ experience in a range of finance roles. She is also currently a non-executive director of Oxford Instruments.

Coats chair David Gosnell said: “Jackie… has played an important role in a number of significant operational and strategic developments for the group, and we wish her all the very best for the future.”

Of Nichols’ appointment, he added: “We are excited to have found a great candidate who has the experience and skills to deliver the next part of the Coats journey.”