Doree Bonner International has recently announced the retirement of Nigel Smith, the company’s group financial controller and named Simon Norrington as his successor.

After qualifying as an accountant in 1977 and spending thirteen years in the shipping industry, Nigel joined Doree Bonner in June 1990 as financial controller. He has been with the company for 27 years, with four of these prior to the acquisition of the business by Group Managing Directors Geoff Watson and Gordon Lyall.

Following the change of ownership, Nigel remained as group financial controller. In 1998 he was appointed company secretary and took a seat on the Board. He has spent the last 23 three years assisting Geoff and Gordon in the creation of the nationwide multi-branch business Doree Bonner is today.

Following a successful handover period, Nigel is passing the reins to Simon Norrington who now becomes group financial controller. Simon originally qualified as a chartered accountant at Day Smith & Hunter, an accountancy firm based in Maidstone and then spent 16 years working for a subsidiary of Abbott Laboratories where he gained experience of both the healthcare industry and manufacturing accounting. He is looking forward to learning about the removals and storage industry.

“I have enjoyed an exciting and dynamic career at Doree Bonner, and working with Geoff and Gordon at the helm, life has never been dull,” said Nigel. “I thank them for all the opportunities I have had over the years and will miss both them and all the staff at Doree Bonner, but at the same time am looking forward to my retirement.”

Geoff Watson and Gordon Lyall commented: “We would like to thank Nigel for his very significant contribution to Doree Bonner over the past 23 years and particularly his support and wise counsel to us both. We would like to wish him all the very best for a long and happy retirement. And at the same time we warmly welcome Simon to Doree Bonner and look forward to working with him in the next chapter of Doree Bonner’s life.”

Having now retired, Nigel has moved back to his native Yorkshire with his wife, Heather, their son and daughter and three pointer dogs.

Photo: Left to right: Simon Norrington, New Group Financial Controller; Geoff Watson, Joint Managing Director; Nigel Smith, Retiring Group Financial Controller; Gordon Lyall, Joint Managing Director.