Abell leaves Leyland
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LEYLAND has restructured its commercial vehicle business after the sudden departure of BL Commercial Vehicles managing director David Abell, who wants to take over Prestcold Holding Ltd, BL's commercial refrigeration subsidiary.
Mr Abell resigned on Friday last week, a day after Lancashire-based Suter Electrical, of which Mr Abell holds a 17 per cent shareholding, asked for dealings in its shares to be suspended. It was then announced that Suter is at an advanced stage in negotiations to buy Prestcold, and BL said that a conflict of interest would have arisen if Mr Abell had continued to hold both posts.
Millionaire Mr Abell's departure heralds the first major restructure of Leyland's commercial vehicle activities since his appointment in December 1978.
BLCV has been renamed the Leyland Group, and loses control of Alvis and Coventry Climax to BL executive vice-chairman David Andrews who also becomes chairman of the Leyland Group. This move is seen as one which gives the commercial vehicle business a stronger voice on the BL board, and at the same time will make it easier for Alvis and Coventry Climax to be sold.
Former Leyland Australia managing director Ron Hancock is now Leyland Group managing director and chairman of Leyland Vehicles Ltd, which is being divided into three distinct business units, each with its own managing director.
Leyland Trucks, under former Heavy Vehicle Division general manager Peter Capon, will be responsible for the design, manufacture, sales, and service of all lorries, vans, and tractors built at Leyland, Albion, Bathgate, Guy and Scammell.
Leyland Bus, under former Passenger Vehicle Division general manager Ken Maciver, will handle the design, development, and manufacture of all products of the Workington, Lowestoft, Leeds, and Bristol plants, and the sales, marketing and service of all Leyland buses and coaches in the United Kingdom.
Responsibility for the Central Parts Operation at Chorley, and for developing Multipart, rests with newly created Leyland Parts, for which a managing director has still to be appointed.