LONDON: Versarien plc, the advanced materials engineering group, announced that James Stewart CBE has been appointed as the Company’s Non-executive Chairman with immediate effect.

Mr Stewart is currently Managing Partner of Menlo Partners LLP, an investment and advisory company with a particular focus on technology companies operating in the UK and China.  Prior to founding Menlo in 2013, he spent 25 years in the private equity sector, latterly as a Partner at ECI Partners LLP, one of the UK’s longest established private equity fund managers, where he was involved in a wide range of investments.

James joined ECI in 1996 having formerly spent time at Arthur Andersen & Co. (Management Consultancy Division), N M Rothschild & Co. Limited and as an Investment Director at Rothschild Ventures Limited.

Following Mr Stewart’s appointment the Company’s Board now comprises James Stewart (Non-executive Chairman), Neill Ricketts (CEO), Christopher Leigh (CFO), Susan Bowen (Non-executive Director) and Iain Gray (Non-executive Director).

Commenting on the appointment Neill Ricketts, CEO of Versarien, said: “We are delighted to welcome James to the Versarien board.  He brings significant business and transaction experience to Versarien that will be particularly valuable as we progress our commercial partnerships and international expansion strategy.

“In particular James has considerable experience of doing business in Asia and a wide range of contacts that will assist Versarien.  I look forward to working closely with him and the Group being able to utilise his skills and experience as the commercial adoption of our graphene and other 2D materials accelerates.”