THE managing director of Beloit Walmsley Ltd, Alfred J. Pettengell, retires at the week-end.

Mr Pettengell steps down from the top job at the American-owned Bolton company after 18 years in the hot seat.

He joined Walmsley's (Bury) Ltd as contracts manager in 1964 after a number of years with Henry Simon Ltd as a contract and finance specialist.

He was appointed a director of Walmsley's (Bury) Ltd in 1966 and a director of Walmsley's (Bury) Group in 1970, becoming finance director in 1975 and managing director in April, 1978.

A spokesman for the Crompton Way company said that Mr Pettengell had been "at the sharp end" in many of Beloit Walmsley's paper machinery order negotiations - leading the sales teams for important contracts. He said that under Mr Pettengell's enthusiastic guidance, drive and skill in developing investment strategies, production facilities and an effective management structure the Bolton company had evolved as a vital element in the Beloit Corporation's global presence.

Mr Pettengell was chairman of the British Paper Machinery Makers' Association (now part of PICON) in 1981/82 and served on the executive committee for a number of years.

Beloit Corporation, the company's US parent, has asked Mr Pettengell to assist in a consulting role in the planning of important new international strategies.

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