ELECTRONICS company ARD Electronics has announced the retirement of its chairman Keith Duckett.

His position at the head of the Altham-based firm will be taken by his sons Nicholas and Richard. Nicholas becomes chairman and his brother vice-chairman.

Jezz Patel rises from general manager to managing director.

The firm employs almost 40 staff and is continuing to expand. It has just published its 2001 trade catalogue which at 912 pages is 300 pages larger than this year's.