Carlton Financial Group, the independent private merchant banking group based in London, has announced that Sir Francis Mackay has been elec...

Carlton Financial Group, the independent private merchant banking group based in London, has announced that Sir Francis Mackay has been elected chairman with immediate effect. Sir Francis joined the Carlton Financial Group as non-executive vice chairman in February 2006. He is also an investor in the business, alongside HBOS (which acquired a 9.9 per cent holding in the group in September 2006) and other individual partners. Andrew Taee, who held the posts of chairman and chief executive, continues in his principal role as group chief executive. The appointment of Sir Ralph Robins as the chairman of Carlton’s non-executive advisory board has also been announced. As well as chairing Rolls Royce for eleven years, he brings considerable industrial and financial experience to the group, holding non-executive roles most recently at Standard Chartered, Schroders, Marks & Spencer and Cable & Wireless. Founded in 2004, Carlton Financial Group consists of two complementary businesses: Carlton Corporate Finance, an independent corporate finance and advisory firm; and Carlton Capital Partners, which provides investment management advisory services to private clients and investment institutions.