Glasgow-based sausage skin and collagen products firm Devro plc said that after 10 years with the firm, Peter Page “has agreed with the board that he will step down from his role as chief executive after the announcement of the group’s 2017 full year results on 27 February, 2018.”

Rutger Helbing, currently group finance director, will succeed Page as CEO on February 28, 2018, when Page will leave the board. 

“To ensure an orderly transition, Peter Page will continue to be available in an advisory capacity as needed,” said Devro.

“A search for Rutger Helbing’s successor has commenced and an announcement regarding this appointment will be made in due course.”

Helbing joined Devro as group finance director in April, 2016.

Prior to joining Devro, Helbing was group chief financial officer of Element Six, a manufacturer of “synthetic diamond supermaterials.”

Previously, Helbing held senior positions in finance and general management with ICI/Akzo Nobel and Unilever.

Helbing, who is Dutch, holds a postgraduate degree in finance from the Free University, Amsterdam, and a degree in economics from Erasmus University.

“The Nomination Committee undertook a thorough process to identify the most suitable individual to replace Peter, considering both external and internal candidates, before deciding Rutger was the appropriate person to take up the role of chief executive,” said Devro.

Devro chairman Gerard Hoetmer said: “Peter has made a huge contribution to Devro during the last 10 years, turning the company into one of the world’s leading suppliers of collagen casings for food, with a network of world-class manufacturing facilities.  

“He will leave with our best wishes and we wish him every success with the next steps of his career.  

“We are delighted to have someone of Rutger’s calibre to succeed Peter and we are happy that, after having worked together for almost two years, there will be a smooth transition of leadership.”