Porvair PLC (PRV), the specialist filtration, laboratory and environmental technology group, has announced a series of board changes with immediate effect on 12 November 2026. Dr Ros Rivaz has joined as Senior Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee, bringing extensive international manufacturing and engineering experience to the role. Simultaneously, Sheena Mackay has stepped down from the board to take up a position at another company, and Laura Wand has been appointed as the director responsible for employee engagement. Investors in the FTSE-listed group will be watching how the refreshed board composition shapes governance and remuneration strategy.

Key Points

  • Porvair PLC (PRV) — specialist filtration, laboratory and environmental technology group
  • Dr Ros Rivaz appointed Senior Independent Non-Executive Director and Remuneration Committee Chair with immediate effect from 12 November 2026
  • Sheena Mackay departs the board immediately; Laura Wand takes on employee engagement responsibility
  • Investors should watch for any subsequent changes to remuneration policy or committee priorities under Dr Rivaz's leadership

Dr Ros Rivaz Joins Porvair Board with Manufacturing and Engineering Credentials

Dr Ros Rivaz brings a substantial track record in senior executive and non-executive roles across manufacturing and engineering sectors. The announcement states she currently serves as Chair of Companies House, Senior Independent Director of Victrex plc — a UK FTSE 250 company — and Lead Independent Director of Aperam S.A., which is listed across Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Madrid and Luxembourg. Her previous chairmanships include Anglian Water Services and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, and she has held board positions at Computacenter plc and Convatec Group plc, giving her broad governance experience across regulated and industrial businesses.

Rivaz's Executive Career Spans Smith & Nephew, ExxonMobil, Diageo and ICI

Beyond her non-executive portfolio, Dr Rivaz's executive career adds further depth to her appointment at Porvair. The announcement confirms she was previously Chief Operating Officer of Smith & Nephew plc and held senior management positions at ExxonMobil, Diageo, ICI and Tate & Lyle. This combination of operational leadership in global multinationals and non-executive governance roles in both listed and public-sector organisations is consistent with the profile sought for a Senior Independent Director at a specialist industrial group such as Porvair, which operates across its Aerospace & Industrial, Laboratory, and Metal Melt Quality divisions.

Sheena Mackay Departs and Laura Wand Gains Employee Engagement Remit

The board changes also include the departure of Sheena Mackay, who the announcement states has stepped down with immediate effect to take up a role at another company. Porvair's board expressed its thanks for her contribution and wished her well. Concurrently, existing Non-Executive Director Laura Wand has been formally appointed as the director responsible for employee engagement, also with immediate effect. This designation reflects a growing emphasis among UK-listed companies on structured board-level oversight of workforce matters, a trend reinforced by evolving UK corporate governance expectations.

Porvair's Decentralised Structure Provides Context for Governance Oversight

Porvair describes itself as a decentralised portfolio of specialist filtration, laboratory and environmental technology businesses, providing what the company terms technically differentiated, mission-critical solutions across diverse end markets. The Group's three divisions — Aerospace & Industrial, Laboratory, and Metal Melt Quality — serve customers where product reliability is paramount. Strong independent board oversight and an experienced remuneration committee chair are therefore particularly relevant given the technically demanding and regulated markets in which Porvair competes. The company did not disclose any changes to financial guidance in connection with these board appointments.