James Latham plc has announced the appointment of a new chairman, Peter Latham. Peter has succeeded Roger Latham who retired in December after 44 years of service with the company and was chairman for five years.

Peter joined Lathams in 1969 as a tally clerk at the original site in Clapton prior to reading economics at university, and has, since rejoining in 1973, worked in many different areas of the business. He has spent the last two years as deputy chairman.

Commenting on his career so far, Peter said: "Since the company began in 1757, Lathams has had to adapt to meet the demands of the industry. Even in the relatively short time I’ve been at Lathams, I’ve seen a lot of changes and in the next 5-10 years I’m sure there will be many more. It is a real honour to have been given his role in the company’s 250^th year and I’m looking forward to leading the business to further success."

As well as his role as chairman of James Latham plc, Peter also sits on the PEFC board and chairs the Timber Trade Federation’s environmental committee, where he has responsibility for addressing some of the industry’s environmental issues. He added: "We will continue to source timber from certified sustainable suppliers wherever possible and raise awareness of the importance of sustainable forestry. The timber industry is constantly evolving and it is vital that we embrace these changes to ensure the responsible development of the trade."

For further information, visit the website at www.lathamtimber.co.uk

-Ends-

For further press information, please contact Catherine Brown or Tim Roberts at Connectpoint PR on 0161 817 4200, Fax 0161 817 4212, or email Catherine.brown@Connectpoint.co.uk