Fisher and Paykel announces board changes

Fisher and Paykel has announced the appointment of Tony Carter as an independent non-executive director of the company.

Mr Carter will assume his position with the medical technology firm on December 1st 2010 and will be retiring from his current role as managing director of Foodstuffs Auckland on the same date.

The announcement coincides with news that Sir Colin Maiden will be retiring from the Fisher and Paykel board and will officially step down on February 22nd 2011.

Gary Pakyel, the company's chairman, thanked Sir Colin for his contributions to the business during his 32 years as a director, while expressing confidence that Mr Carter's appointment will bring success.

"We are extremely pleased to welcome Tony to the board and believe that his engineering background and considerable business experience will add to the strength of our board," he said.

This comes in the same week that Fisher and Paykel reported its half-year financial results, noting growing demand for its respiratory and acute care consumables offering.