Newcastle-based building services group Northern Bear plc confirmed a number of board changes.

Simon Carr, 65, becomes non-executive chairman with immediate effect and Harry Samuel, interim non-executive chairman, resumes his previous role of non-executive director with immediate effect.

Anil Khera will be stepping down from his role as non-executive director, with immediate effect, “in order to provide the board with an appropriate balance between executive and non-executive directors.”

Northern Bear said: “Simon Carr is a highly experienced individual with over 45 years’ experience in the construction industry, having sat on the board of both private and public companies …

“Simon sits on the board of trustees at Beverly Minister Old Fund and is the chair of the board of Road Link (A69) Limited and Road Link (A69) Holdings Limited (both companies that Henry Boot Plc hold a majority shareholding in). He is also the Independent Company Secretary and past national chair of the National Federation of Builders.

“Simon was previously the Managing Director of Henry Boot Construction Limited and sat on the Executive Committee of Henry Boot Plc. He was also a private-sector board member for the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership Board for eight years, sitting on a number of associated public and private sector boards. Simon sat on the CBI Construction Council for six years and is a past president of the Yorkshire Builders Federation.

“Simon Carr was a director of Starfish Commercial Limited, a subsidiary of Henry Boot Construction Limited, when it entered creditors’ voluntary liquidation following the impact of COVID-19 on 22 September 2020 with insolvency proceedings ongoing. As of 17 November 2023, the liquidators anticipate secured preferential and preferential creditors to be paid in full, the dividend to unsecured creditors remains to be determined with insolvency proceedings ongoing.

“Simon Carr was a non-executive director of Wildgoose Construction Limited when it was placed into administration on 2 November 2021, later being placed into creditors’ voluntary liquidation on 3 November 2022 with proceedings ongoing. As of 12 December 2023, full distribution for the secured and ordinary preferential creditors have been paid, with amounts payable to HMRC and unsecured creditors to be determined with insolvency proceedings ongoing.”