Keller Group, the international ground engineering specialist, has announced the retirement of its Chairman, Dr Michael West.

Dr West has chaired the Group since 1995 and was previously Chief Executive from 1982, having joined the Group in 1964. He will retire as Chairman at the end of July and will be succeeded by Mr Roy Franklin OBE, who joined the Board as a Non-executive Director in 2007.

Roy Franklin, 55, who is a geologist by background, is currently a Non-executive Director of Norwegian-listed StatoilHydro ASA and Australian-listed Santos Limited. He is also Chairman of Bateman Litwin N.V. and Novera Energy plc, both of which are AIM-listed.

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His previous executive appointments include Paladin Resources plc, where he was Chief Executive and Clyde Petroleum plc, where he was Group Managing Director, following various senior management posts at BP.

Justin Atkinson, Chief Executive of Keller, commented: "Dr West's contribution to Keller, first as our Chief Executive and then as Chairman, has been considerable. Having led the management buyout of Keller in 1990 and its IPO in 1994, he has since overseen its impressive growth and he will leave behind a very strong legacy.

"The executive team looks forward to working with Roy as Chairman. The continuity which comes from his previous involvement on the Board for almost two years will be beneficial, as will Roy's international experience and strategic capability."

(CD/JM)