Sir Martin Jacomb joins Delta

SIR MARTIN Jacomb, the former head of BZW, Barclays' investment banking and securities arm, will be the next chairman of Delta, the cables and engineering group.

The appointment is a jump for Sir Martin into industry - he is primarily known as a leading City figure. He is chairman of Postel, the BT and post office pension fund, and remains a deputy chairman of Barclays.

Very much a member of 'the great and the good', he is on the court of the Bank of England and is chairman of the British Council. He has some industrial experience as a non-executive director of RTZ, the mining giant. He is also deputy chairman of Commercial Union and a non-executive director of Marks & Spencer and The Telegraph. He was knighted in 1985.

Before joining BZW, he was with Kleinwort Benson for 17 years.

At BZW, he was one of the prime architects of the type of integrated merchant bank and securities house that revolutionised the City after Big Bang.

Geoffrey Wilson is to step down as chairman at Delta's annual meeting in April. He was chairman and chief executive before becoming non-executive chairman three years ago. Sir Martin joins the board next month as deputy chairman.

Mr Wilson said he was delighted to have found such an able and distinguished successor. 'Although I knew the executive team was first-rate, I was very concerned to find the right person to lead the company as chairman. Sir Martin brings great experience and a fine intellect to the company.'

He added that Sir Martin was not chosen just because of his City experience. 'As a senior merchant banker, he was working with industry all his career.'