Smiths Group plc announced that the Board has appointed Roland Carter as the Group's Chief Executive Officer. Roland will take on his new responsibilities with immediate effect. Paul Keel has decided to step down from his position as Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect.

Paul, who will be available to support a short handover, is returning to the USA where most of his family is based to take on a new role as chief executive of a US public company. This appointment demonstrates the robust succession planning process that the Board has put in place, which cultivates internal talent. Roland is a highly respected leader who has a strong and consistent track record of leading innovation and growth and has been with Smiths for more than 30 years.

Since 2018, Roland has led Smiths Detection. Here he has been instrumental in developing its order book that has grown to be the largest in its history, underpinned by the recent technological innovation of the CTiX advanced baggage screening system. He has also notably increased Smiths Detection's aftermarket revenue stream to greater than 50% of sales.

In his previous role as President of Smiths Asia Pacific, he established the foundations for the current organisation and focus on that region where he set up Smiths Group's first joint venture in China. Similarly, he was the architect of critical elements of Smiths Interconnect and refocused that business through acquisition and divestment. Roland has had a keen focus on innovation throughout his career, and he has been instrumental in developing Smiths Detection's leading products alongside its sustainability and circular economy credentials.

He is a chartered engineer, with extensive international experience and a deep knowledge of Smiths Group's end markets and industry sectors.