EDINBURGH-based Cairn Energy has appointed its first new company secretary in 22 years.

The oil and gas firm said Duncan Wood had retired as company secretary after serving in that position since the 1990s.

Anne McSherry succeeded Mr Wood on December 1. Ms McSherry graduated in law from the University of Aberdeen and has been with Cairn since 2009.

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Cairn chief executive Simon Thomson thanked Mr Wood for his invaluable service and wished him all the best in his retirement.

The UK Corporate Governance Code published in 2018 says company secretaries are responsible for advising boards on all governance matters.

The code applies to stock market-listed firms.

Cairn listed on the stock market in 1988.

Mr Wood became company secretary of Cairn when it was focused on exploration work in Asia. Cairn made bumper finds in India under the leadership of its founder, Sir Bill Gammell.

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Mr Thomson succeeded Sir Bill in 2011. Cairn has enjoyed exploration success off Senegal and developed a significant North Sea production business since he took charge.

Last week Cairn said that oil services industry veteran Nicoletta Giadrossi would succeed Ian Tyler as chair of the company’s board on January 1.

Mr Tyler has been chairman since 2014. Ms Giadrossi joined the Cairn board in 2017.