Ashtead Group plc (AHT.L) announced that Michael Pratt, chief financial officer, has notified the Board of his intention to retire in September 2025. Alex Pease will join the Group in October as CFO Designate. Alex was most recently CFO of WestRock Company from 2021 until its recent merger with Smurfit Kappa. Alex will be based in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Brendan Horgan, Chief Executive of Ashtead, said: "Alex brings with him over 20 years of experience in finance, corporate strategy, M&A, capital markets, portfolio optimisation and broad-based business transformation. He is well placed to join the team as we begin the delivery of our Sunbelt 4.0 strategy."
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Business News
May 08, 2026 15:50 ET Manufacturing and services sector survey results and labor market data from main economies were the highlight on the economics news front this week. Factory orders and jobs report dominated the news flow in the U.S. Similarly, industrial production data from German garnered attention in Europe. In Asia, purchasing managers’ survey results from China and the central bank decision from Australia were in focus.