On the move - Piper never calls tune at Trinity Mirror.

(From Financial Director)

Ric Piper's high-profile move to Trinity Mirror as FD ended before it began. The former WS Atkins FD was asked not to start his new job following problems with Atkins' new billing and payroll system leading to a shock profit warning (see page 26).

Newly appointed Amey FD Michael Kayser has quit after just five weeks in the position. Eric Tracey, a Deloitte & Touche partner, has joined as acting group FD and will present the preliminary results in March 2003. Amey chairman Sir Ian Robinson says the departure is made "more disappointing" as the board is looking for a period of management stability to implement its plans.

Cider maker HP Bulmer has fired FD Alan Flockhart after the discovery of GBP 3.8m of "unidentified promotional costs". The move follows the recent departure of the company's chief executive, Mike Hughes, and Bulmer has scrapped the payment of last year's and this year's dividends.

Budgens FD Steven Back is set to join troubled retail company Somerfield as group FD. Back will replace current group FD Martin Gatto. The group has also seen the recent departure of chief exec Alan Smith after it announced a profits warning.

Finally an FD still in his job. MyTravel (formerly AirTours) FD David Jardine remains in his post at press time, despite the company issuing its third profit warning in five months and the resignation of chief exec Tim Byrne.

Marina Wyatt has left Psion Group to join COLT Telecom as group FD. She replaces acting CFO Andrew Steward, who resumes as CFO of COLT's majority shareholder Fidelity International, which put its people on the COLT board in 2002.