Smiths Group selects GKN executive as CEO

Andrew Reynolds Smith has been with GKN since 2002

Smiths Group, which manufacturers industrial seals, medical devices and security detectors, has appointed Andrew Reynolds Smith as its new chief executive. 

Smith is currently chief executive of GKN Automotive, the manufacturer of driveline systems and powder metal components, the largest division of FTSE-100 company GKN.

Smiths Group chairman, Sir George Buckley, said: "I am absolutely delighted that we have attracted someone of Andrew's calibre as our new chief executive. Andrew has almost 20 years' experience running large, complex global industrial engineering operations with a track record of delivering turnarounds and above market growth rates. His career has equipped him to grow businesses through innovation and technical excellence as well as through targeted M&A. Smiths will greatly benefit from his engineering insight and leadership skills.

"Philip Bowman will continue as chief executive until he hands over to Andrew. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Philip for his invaluable contribution to Smiths over the past eight years. He has delivered improved margins, cash, and returns despite difficult trading conditions in one of the worst economic recessions in living memory. There is no doubt he leaves the business in substantially better shape than when he joined."

Smith has held various senior management roles across different divisions at GKN since joining in 2002 and was appointed an executive director of GKN in 2007. He previously held various senior management roles in a number of engineering businesses, including Ingersoll Rand, Siebe (now Invensys) and Delphi Automotive Systems.  

He is currently a non-executive director of Morgan Advanced Materials and vice-president of CLEPA (the European Association of Automotive Suppliers).

Smith will join the company on 25 September.