Chubb Fire director John Spencer, of Newton Purcell, near Bicester, has been promoted to take over the running of all companies that operate under the Chubb Fire umbrella, writes David Duffy.

The companies have a combined turnover of 120m and employ about 1,300 staff.

A former director of Chubb Fire's extinguisher division, which supplies and services fire extinguishers throughout the UK, he has been with the firm for seven years.

Previously he worked in the information technology sector and has a background in communications and customer services.

The company is the UK's largest manufacturer of fire extinguishers and has a factory in Wales which is one of the world's largest fire extinguisher plants, producing more than a million extinguishers a year.

Married with sons, aged nine and six, Mr Spencer is a keen rugby union fan. A former player with Moseley RFC, he now coaches the Bicester Under 9s team.