Jardine Matheson appoints Ben Keswick as Managing Director

The group also appoints Adam Keswick as Deputy Managing Director.

Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited announced Thursday that Mr Anthony Nightingale would be retiring as Managing Director of the Company with effect from 31st March 2012. He will remain a non-executive Director. He will be succeeded as Managing Director by Mr Ben Keswick, group managing director of Jardine Cycle & Carriage.

Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited also on Thursday announced the appointment of Mr Adam Keswick as Deputy Managing Director with effect from 1st April 2012.

Mr Ben Keswick will also succeed Mr Anthony Nightingale as managing director of listed Group companies Jardine Strategic Holdings Limited, Hongkong Land Holdings Limited, Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited and Mandarin Oriental International Limited, and Mr Adam Keswick will also join the boards of these companies.

Mr Anthony Nightingale will remain a director of these Group companies, as well as a commissioner of Astra International.

Mr Ben Keswick has been group managing director of Jardine Cycle & Carriage based in Singapore since 2007, and also serves as a commissioner and executive committee member of Astra International. He first joined the Group in 1998 undertaking roles in Dairy Farm and Hongkong Land before being appointed as finance director and then chief executive officer of Jardine Pacific in Hong Kong. He joined the Board of Jardine Matheson as an Executive Director in 2007, according to a Jardine Matheson report.

Commenting on the changes Jardine Matheson Group Chairman, Sir Henry Keswick, said, “We are grateful for Anthony Nightingale’s extensive contribution during his career with Jardine Matheson, and in particular his excellent leadership over the past five and a half years. He has overseen a period of strong growth for the Group and will be stepping down as Managing Director at a time when all of our businesses are performing well. I am pleased that he will remain associated with Jardines as a non-executive director of our main listed companies.

“Ben Keswick has been instrumental in expanding profitably our Southeast Asian interests over recent years. As part of Jardine Matheson’s senior management team since 2003 he has acquired extensive experience in a range of the Group’s businesses, both public and private, across different markets. I am confident he will ensure the Group continues to grow and prosper in line with our strategic vision,” he added.