PROFESSOR Christopher Snowden has resigned as a director of Filtronic to take up an academic post.

The chief executive officer of Filtronic's ICS division will become vice-chancellor and chief executive of the University of Surrey in July next year.

Prof Snowden was praised by Filtronic for his work in establishing compound semiconductor facilities in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

Professor David Rhodes, Filtronic's executive chairman, said: "I would like to thank him for his personal support over the last 30 years and believe that he is the ideal person to make a success of this prestigious appointment."

On June 11, the company said financial director John Samuel had resigned with immediate effect. Mr Samuel joined Zetex as chief financial officer