John Hubbard has joined the board of Bodycote International plc as group chief executive designate with immediate effect. He will become chief executive of the group on January 1, 2002, at which time John Chesworth, the current chief executive, will succeed Bruce Farmer as non-executive chairman. John Hubbard has been responsible for the growth of the North American heat treatment division since 1996 when he joined Bodycote as president of Hinderliter Heat Treating Inc. James Wallace, non-executive director, has been appointed deputy chairman of the group.