John Spon-Smith becomes MD of Raleigh…

The changes at the top of Raleigh take place on 1st November.

Phillip Darnton will chair the Management Executive and retain overall responsibility for the UK operation, and continue as a member of the Executive Committee of the Group. He will take personal responsibility for a wide range of company issues, especially all aspects of the development of the new factory site and external relationships with the City Council and Nottingham University.

John Spon-Smith, currently the MD of Raleigh P & A, will become MD of Raleigh Industries Ltd. and will report to Phillip Darnton.

Spon-Smith’s day to day responsibility for P & A will be transferred to Jane Tomkinson, who will become general manager P & A, and a member of the Management Executive Team.

Alan Finden-Crofts, chairman of Jersey-registered Raleigh Cycle Ltd., the successful bidder for the US-registered Derby Cycle Corporation, and owner of Raleigh UK, said:

"With these changes, I am confident that we can maintain both the consistency of strategy and leadership which Phillip has provided, and at the same time strengthen our top team and bring the cycle and P & A businesses closer together for mutual benefit."

Phillip Darnton told bikebiz.co.uk that it was a possibility that the cycle and P&A parts of the company could be housed under one roof at the new north of Nottingham HQ. Currently the businesses are run from separate locations, some miles apart.