Ex-Railtrack boss to chair Durex firm

THE maker of Durex condoms and Scholl footwear today said former Railtrack chief executive Gerald Corbett will become its new chairman.

SSL International said Mr Corbett, who currently chairs High Street chain Woolworths, would take up the non-executive role from 1 August.

He will replace Ian Martin, aged 70, who has been chairman of SSL since 2001 and is standing down at the company's annual meeting on 20 July.

Former Grand Metropolitan group finance director Corbett joined Railtrack in 1997 and resigned in November 2000 in the aftermath of the Hatfield rail crash. He later joined Woolworths and led its demerger from retailing group Kingfisher in August 2001.

Corbett, 53, is also the non-executive chairman of Health Club Holdings, the Holmes Place fitness club business, and a non-executive director of food group Greencore.

'I am very pleased to be joining the board of SSL as chairman,' Mr Corbett said. 'It is an interesting business at an interesting time, with a great portfolio of leading global brands such as Durex and Scholl, strong management and a number of growth opportunities.'

SSL chief executive Garry Watts thanked Mr Martin for playing 'a crucial role in SSL's re-emergence as a growing consumer healthcare company'.

Welcoming Mr Corbett, he said: 'He is an experienced chairman with a strong background in international, consumer-facing businesses who will make a major contribution to the future of SSL.'