A COMPANY which makes body parts and crash structures for iconic car brands such as Aston Martin, BMW, Jaguar and Lotus has appointed three new directors at it its plant in Shrub Hill, Worcester.

The three all worked for Hydro, the Worcester company which was taken over by Holden Aluminium last year.

Bob Dorney-Smith is the firm's new sales director. Having studied for a degree in materials at Sussex University and following a stint as a sports and science teacher, he went on to pursue a career in the automotive engineering industry.

Mr Dorney-Smith joined Hydro in Worcester in 1997 as a project manager and went on to specialise in sales and development.

He said: "Our aim at the Worcester site is to focus towards meeting the lightweight body structure needs of the automotive industry and to look forward to the challenging future provided by the low volume car sector."

Pete Bullivant-Clark has been appointed technical director.

He has also spent many years working in the aluminium automotive engineering industry at home and abroad. He is now responsible for looking after the design and all the processes leading up to production.

Deborah Collins has been appointed financial director. She is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Chartered Manage-ment Accountants and has worked for a number of manufacturing, engineering and automotive companies. She spent six years as an audit manager at GKN working on international operations and joined Hydro in 1998 as a finance manager.

In her new post as financial director Mrs Collins will be managing the financial needs of the Worcester company.

Holden Aluminium employs 177 people at its two sites in Worcester and Bromyard.

Richard Williams, managing director of the company, said: "We are delighted to welcome Bob, Pete and Deborah on to the board of directors. The firm faces many exciting challenges in the coming years and their experience will be a great boost in our efforts to make the firm expand and develop."