BRIAN Duckworth has been appointed to the board of Avon Rubber as a non-executive director and Detlev Bartels has been appointed to the board as an executive director with responsibility for European automotive operations.

Accountant Mr Duckworth, 53, is managing director of Severn Trent Water Limited and a director of Severn Trent Plc.

He is also a non-executive Director of Aquafin N.V. in Belgium. Mr Bartels, 47, joined the Avon Group as director of automotive Europe in September last year.