Petards Group plc ("Petards" or "the Group"), announces that Tom Burwood has been appointed Managing Director of the Group's main subsidiary, Petards Joyce-Loebl Limited.

The role had previously been performed by Bill Conn in addition to his responsibilities as Group Chief Executive. As previously reported Bill stepped down as Chief Executive on 31 December 2011 to take up his new role as a non executive director of Petards on 1 January 2012.
With a background in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Tom joins the Group from Cobham plc, where latterly he was the Business Development Director of Cobham Antenna Systems. He has many years' experience of business management and international business development and successfully growing companies in a variety of high technology market sectors. He joined Cobham in 2003 when it acquired the privately owned business of which he was Managing Director and whose revenues grew from £5m to £27m during his tenure.

Tim Wightman, chairman, said "We are delighted to have been able to have recruited someone of Tom's calibre and experience to lead Petards Joyce-Loebl. His experience in profitably growing technology businesses in both UK and international markets will be invaluable in the next stage of the Group's development."