Marzo goes Noble

Stephen Marzo is to join Hong Kong's Noble Group in the newly created role of global chief financial officer. He replaces Milton Au who retires at the end of this year to take on the role of vice chairman of the Noble's audit committee. In his new role, Marzo will work closely with Gary Mize, global chief operating officer, Richard Elman, chief executive officer and Harry Banga, vice chairman.

Marzo's financial career has spanned the last 20 years. His credentials include stints at Chase Manhattan and Salomon Inc's Phibro Energy Division as well as four years in Hong Kong as an executive director and chief credit officer of Goldman Sachs Asia.  He joins Noble from Tom Group, the KS Li entity, where he was finance director.

Elman comments that Marzo's appointment is "yet one more step in our ongoing programme to strengthen, deepen, and augment Noble at senior management level. Steve is a high calibre individual who will fit well with the Noble team."

Singapore-listed Noble has been an investor darling in the past 18 months, and Marzo joins a company that is trying to brand itself as the 'Li & Fung' of the commodities business.