By Michael Eboh
John Holt Plc has announced the appointment of a new Managing Director — Mr. Richard Hargrave.
This. according to a statement released to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Tuesday, was as a result of the retirement of its erstwhile Managing Director — Mr. Nosike Agokei.

The company noted that the appointed of Hargrave, who was former Executive Director of the company, takes effect from May 2010.

According to the statement, Mr. Richard Hargrave, holds a Diploma in Social Sciences from Crawley Technical College in 1972.

“Prior to this appointment, Mr. Richard has held top positions in various companies spanning Regional Export Manager – Smith line & French Labs Limited; Regional Marketing Director – Schering-Plough Corp; Marketing & Business Development Director – Schering-Plough Corp; Executive Vice-President/Managing Director – Maybelline, Japan and Director, Jagal Group,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, Regency Alliance Insurance Plc recorded a loss after tax of N68.75 million in its audited account for the year ended, December 31, 2009, from a profit after tax of N312.66 million recorded in 2008.

According to the results released to the NSE, its turnover dipped by 12.72 per cent to N1.5 billion from N1.72 billion recorded in 2008, while it recorded a loss before tax of N42.58 million compared to a profit before tax of N334.64 million in 2008.

Also, in its unaudited results for the third quarter ended, June 30, 2010, Nampak Nigeria Plc announced a profit after tax of N235.52 million compared to a loss after tax of N66.51 million recorded in similar period of 2009.

Its turnover grew by 12.21 per cent to N3.428 billion from N3.055 billion in 2009, while it recorded a profit before tax of N336.08 million compared to a loss before tax of N53.04 million in 2009.

In its unaudited results for the second quarter ended, June 30, 2010, Unity Kapital Assurance Plc recorded a 91.56 per cent drop in its profit after tax to N40.66 million, compared to N481.78 million recorded in similar period in 2009.

Its gross earnings dipped by 17.96 per cent to N949.85 million from N1.158 billion recorded in 2009, while it recorded a profit before tax of N61.53 million compared to N605.21 million in 2009.