Barrow-in-Furness international marine engineering company James Fisher and Sons plc announced the appointment of Duncan Kennedy as chief financial officer and as an executive director with effect from May 4, 2021.

Kennedy succeeds Stuart Kilpatrick who will step down from the board on April 29, 2021, following the company’s AGM.

Kennedy joins James Fisher from BTG plc, previously a FTSE250 international specialist healthcare company, where he was chief financial officer for two years until the company was acquired in 2019.

He joined BTG in 2005 and held a number of finance and commercial leadership positions from that time.

Kennedy is a chartered accountant with a primary degree in mathematics.

James Fisher chairman Malcolm Paul said: “We are delighted that Duncan Kennedy has agreed to join James Fisher as its new CFO.

“Duncan has gained significant managerial and financial experience in a variety of roles and has a track record of creating sustainable stakeholder value through both organic and acquisitive strategies.

“We look forward to Duncan contributing strongly towards James Fisher becoming a purpose-led, values-driven company and delivering the growth potential inherent within the company.”