The Times: Hollick to step down as UBM chief: “Shell Transport & Trading, the troubled oil giant, is also looking for a chairman to replace Lord Oxburgh…” (ShellNews.net)

By Dan Sabbagh 

September 04, 2004

EXTRACT FROM MAIN ARTICLE: Hollick to step down as UBM chief

WAITING FOR THE MUSIC TO STOP

LORD HOLLICK may have to be patient should he seek to chair a FTSE 100 company. Headhunters have already earned hefty fees this year by filling desirable senior posts, including the chairmanships of AstraZeneca, Barclays, ITV, J Sainsbury, BAE Systems, Unilever and Reuters.

Lord Hollick can take some comfort, however, from the fact that a few top posts remain open, or are likely to become vacant. Paul Myners, the interim chairman of Marks & Spencer, has made it clear that he will stick around only until next summer, to give the retailer breathing space after its takeover battle with Philip Green. Shell Transport & Trading, the troubled oil giant, is also looking for a chairman to replace Lord Oxburgh when he steps down next April, at 70. Sir John Banham, the 64-year-old chairman of Whitbread, is expected to stand down within 12 to 18 months. And Rolls-Royce is searching for a permanent replacement for Euan Baird, who resigned in June for health reasons.