Change Of Guard At Rhone-Poulenc

The chairman of Rhone-Poulenc Chemicals (India) and Rhone-Poulenc Agrochemicals (India), A M Henderson, has taken early retirement and returned to France after nine years of service. Nigel Toft, now in New Zealand, is expected to take over the reins from Henderson in May.

Henderson was also on the boards of Rhone-Poulenc's pharmaceutical companies in India -- Rhone-Poulenc (India) Ltd and Rhone Poulenc Rorer (India) Ltd.

Though Henderson, who had left for France, could not be contacted, company officials said he resigned due to personal reasons. Henderson's stint as chairman of two group companies in India was preceded by his service with the company in UK.

Rhone-Poulenc officials said his successor Nigel Toft, now based in New Zealand, will take charge in mid May. The companies will, meanwhile, be rudderless till May.

Rhone-Poulenc Chemicals (India) (RPCIL) started operations seven years back as an indenting agency in the country for its French principal. The company supplies rubber chemicals, speciality chemicals, textile and fibre chemicals besides animal nutrition products. Rhone-Poulenc Agrochemicals (India), involved in the marketing of insecticides and pesticides, too, does not have manufacturing facilities in the country.

Rhone-Poulenc SA, the French parent Rhone-Poulenc group of companies in India, has operations in healthcare and veterinary products, crop protection, fibres and polymers and chemicals. It has a 51 per cent stake in Rhone-Poulenc Chemicals (India) and Rhone-Poulenc Agrochemicals (India), with Rhone-Poulenc (India) holding the remaining 49 per cent stake in both the companies.