Melrose poaches Delphi's Butterworth to lead automotive arm

Melrose Industries has poached Liam Butterworth from US automotive supplier Delphi Technologies to head up its automotive division.

Butterworth stepped down from the New York-listed Delphi on Friday, having led its powertrain business since 2014 and been chief executive of the group as it was spun off last year, and will begin at the FTSE 100 group in early November.

Melrose formed the automotive division from the driveline and electric powertrain businesses of its £8.1bn takeover of GKN, where it took control in mid-April. The plan has been to decentralise the new business and "empower" each management team in accordance with its usual model.

Butterworth's "substantial leadership experience in the sector will be of great benefit to both GKN Driveline and GKN ePowertrain in achieving the significant improvements we believe are available", said Melrose chief executive Simon Peckham.