On the move - Ellis retirement is Tucker's luck.

(From Financial Director)

HBOS group finance director Mike Ellis is set to retire at the end of the year after 17 years of service.

Ellis joined Halifax in 1987 as treasurer and held a number of senior roles in treasury, retail and group before playing a 'key role' in Halifax's merger with Leeds Permanent Building Society. He was also pivotal in the group's flotation and merger with Bank of Scotland in 2001, at which point he became group FD. HBOS chief executive James Crosby said: "Mike has been at the heart of all our achievements. We wish him well for the future."

The FD role is passed onto Mark Tucker (left). He joins the HBOS board on 30 April and will work alongside Mike Ellis until October. Chartered accountant Tucker has extensive financial services experience, both in the UK and internationally. He previously served as an executive director at Prudential, and as its CEO in Asia.

Jarvis group finance director Robert Kendall has resigned after the rail construction company issued a profits warning. It has estimated a GBP5m loss from its accommodation services arm, against previous market expectations of a GBP5m profit. Kendall has been replaced by Alistair Rae, a former KPMG chartered accountant, who has also served at Deloitte & Touche, Cazenove and HSBC Investment Bank.

Thorntons has appointed former Cranswick FD and current chief executive Martin Davey as a non-executive director. Davey was named Entrepreneur of the Year in 2003 by the Financial Times, in recognition of his role in leading Cranswick.

Bruce Wright has joined the board of troubled bus manufacturer Mayflower as interim FD, after finance director David Donnelly, chief executive John Simpson and joint MD John Fleming stepped down. Chief restructuring officer Alan Jamieson takes on the role of chief executive.