Coats plc, the world’s leading industrial thread and consumer textile crafts business, has appointed Ruth Anderson as Non-Executive Director, effective 2 January 2014.  Ruth is currently Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee at Ocado Group plc and Travis Perkins plc.

Ruth is a chartered accountant and has spent much of her career at KPMG LLP where she was a member of the UK board for the six years to 2004 and vice chairman for the five years to 2009.   

Rob Campbell, Chairman, Guinness Peat Group plc, said:  ‘This significant appointment has been made by Coats confirming the moves towards its independence as a listed company and ongoing completion of the GPG restructure process.’

Mike Clasper, Chairman, Coats plc, said: ‘Ruth is an important addition to the Coats Board as the business readies itself to return to listed company status.  Ruth has deep and relevant experience in finance and audit which, coupled with her non-executive directorships in both the consumer and industrial sectors, provides an excellent fit with our business.  I look forward to working with her and to the contribution and insight she will bring.’

Ruth Anderson added: ‘I am delighted to be joining the board of Coats plc, which has such a strong heritage and continues to innovate for the benefit of its extraordinary range of customers across the world.  I am also looking forward to being part of the board which will return it to listed company status.’

Additional background

Ruth joined KPMG in 1976 as a student accountant, qualifying as a chartered accountant and chartered tax adviser.  In her long career at KPMG she worked with many global businesses as well as being part of the UK leadership team from 1998 to 2009.

Ruth is also a director of The Royal Parks, which is an executive agency of the Department of Culture Media and Sport and a trustee of the charity the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.  She was born in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland and has a BA in French and Spanish from the University of Bradford.

Photos are available on request from kristina.blissett@coats.com

ENDS