Strakan Group, the UK-based speciality pharmaceuticals company, has hired Adrian Gardener, a senior managing director at Lazard in London, as chief financial officer, a pre-cursor to a possible listing in a year's time.

Gardner is leaving Lazard shortly to take up his new position at Strakan in April. He will be based in the company's Scottish headquarters in Galashiels, where he will have overall responsibility for its financial and management accounting systems. As a board director, Gardner will participate in the development of the company's operational and financial strategies which could involve a &quotfuture flotation&quot, the company said.