People: Stott to steer sweet firm’s financials

Confectionery and snack foods group Zetar has drafted in a new figures man, namely experienced food and beverage sector finance man Mark Stott.

Stott, whose appointment at AIM-quoted Zetar takes effect by 1 March, is certainly no corporate novice, having previously plied his trade as group finance director of Europe’s largest egg company, Noble Foods, as well as within various senior finance roles with Dairy Crest, the broadest-based chilled dairy foods company in the UK, and Whitbread Beer.

The energetic Stott, who earned his accountancy spurs with KPMG, clearly relishes the challenge at Zetar, which he describes as ‘an ambitious business with many opportunities for growth’ and where experienced stock market mover and shaker David Williams inhabits the non-executive chair.

Bossed by CEO Ian Blackburn, Zetar, which grew sales 6 per cent to £57 million in the six months to October and which has made good progress on paring debt, has seen its share price fluctuate between 52-week highs and lows of 212.5p and 95p respectively. At the current 182.5p, the business is valued at £24 million.