LONDON, UK, May 4, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Smith & Nephew plc (LSE:SN) (NYSE:SNN) is pleased to announce two new senior appointments in Corporate Affairs.
Liz Hewitt, formerly Director of Corporate Affairs for 3i Group plc, joined Smith & Nephew today as Group Director of Corporate Affairs, based in London. In this role, Liz will have global responsibility for investor and public relations. A chartered accountant, with a broad business background including Arthur Andersen, Gartmore and Citicorp as well as 3i, Liz brings a wealth of business and communications experience to the post.
She will replace Angie Craig who, after two years in London as Smith & Nephew's Director of Corporate Affairs, will return the to the US in mid-May as Vice President of US Investor and Media Relations. She will split her time between the major US financial centres, with a particular emphasis on New York. Her office base will be at the Orthopaedics business in Memphis, Tennessee.
Commenting on these appointments, Sir Christopher O'Donnell, Chief Executive of Smith & Nephew, said:
"With a majority of our customers and a large percentage of our shareholders located in the US, it is now appropriate for Smith & Nephew to establish a corporate investor relations and media office in the US which will allow us to serve more responsively the investment community in North America and also provide a focused resource to build Smith & Nephew's wider profile in the US market.
"Angie Craig has enjoyed two extremely successful years in London as Smith & Nephew's Corporate Affairs Director and is ideally suited to spearhead this new initiative. I am also delighted that Liz Hewitt has joined us in London. She has a strong business and communications background and we look forward to working with her as part of the team."
About Us
Smith & Nephew (LSE: SN, NYSE:SNN) is one of the world's leading medical device companies, specialising in Orthopaedics, Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management products. Smith & Nephew ranks as the global leader in arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is the fastest growing full-line orthopaedics company in the world.
Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives. The company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeon and professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with the high standards of performance, innovation and trust. The company has over 7,000 employees and operates in 32 countries around the world, generating sales of nearly GBP1.2 billion.