Miller Group appoints new chairman

Miller Group has appointed a new chairman to succeed Sir Brian Stewart.

The housebuilding, property development, construction and mining business which last month reported a £90m pre-tax loss for 2011, said 59-year-old Philip Bowman would be its chairman with immediate effect.

Bowman is chief executive of global technology company Smiths Group and is an ex-chief executive of Scottish Power.

Miller Group chief executive Keith M Miller said the firm’s new chairman had “a wealth of experience at the helm of major international public companies”.

“He has amply demonstrated his ability to take a leading role in building businesses,” he said.

“We are looking forward to welcoming Philip to the Miller team at a time when we will be focusing on the further development and expansion of the business.”

Between 1999 and 2005 Bowman was chief executive of Allied Domecq, and he is currently the senior independent director of Burberry Group.

He said Miller Group was at “a very exciting point” in its development.

“Its financial strength has been transformed by the recent capital injection by GSO Capital Partners and The Blackstone Group,” he said.

“The Miller Group has a very successful track record of producing many fine buildings and developments and the outlook for the future is extremely positive.”