New chairman for Northcross

Acquisitive Edinburgh group Northcross has appointed the founder of Direct Line as non-executive chairman. Peter Wood will be “actively involved” in the consultancy, says Northcross managing director John Slater.

Slater has worked with Wood over many years and is advising on a project in the US. “Our turnover and profit was such that we had to talk about where we were going,” says Slater of the appointment.

Having a non-executive chairman from outside the design industry broadens the group’s outlook, Slater adds.

Last autumn John Ballantine moved from non-executive chairman to the post of group finance director (DW 7 November 1997).