United Drug appoints chief financial officer

United Drug has announced that Alan Ralph will take on the role of chief financial officer (CFO) from June 2013.

Mr Ralph has been a company director since 2008 and has acted as managing director of United Drug's healthcare supply chain division – the group's largest business segment – since 2005.

His appointment follows the news that finance director Barry McGrane will be stepping down from his role at the end of May 2013 and will instead assume a non-executive director position until the firm's 2014 annual general meeting.

Mr McGrane has been with the company for 20 years and played an essential role in its growth and development during this time.

Chief executive of United Drug Liam FitzGerald said: "In Alan Ralph we have another experienced and dynamic executive who will slot seamlessly into the CFO role given his past financial experience and his deep knowledge of the group."

This comes in the week that the firm delists its shares from the Irish Stock Exchange, following its strategic decision to list its shares on the London Stock Exchange only.