EXECUTIVE CHANGE SUMMARY: Burford Capital Adds Independent Directors

Thu, 27th Feb 2020 17:56

(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of company director and manager changes announced on Thursday and not separately reported by Alliance News:

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Burford Capital Ltd - The litigation finance firm adds Christopher Bogart, chief executive officer and a company founder, to the board, as proposed back in January. Also hires Robert Gillespie, most recently director general of the UK Takeover Panel, and John Sievwright, former chief operating officer for International at Merrill Lynch, as independent non-executive directors. Peter Middleton to step down as chair at 2021 annual general meeting, succeeded by Deputy Chair Steve Wilson. Burford said it will continue to refresh its board and expects to add a further independent director prior to the 2021 AGM. The company is seeking a US listing, and it said Thursday that if successful, it will look to add another US director. Burford was the target of a short-selling attack back in August of last year by Muddy Waters Capital LLC, which charged that Burford "is a poor business masquerading as a great one".

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OnTheMarket PLC - Property portal hires Rupert Sebag-Montefiore as independent non-executive director. Sebag-Montefiore served as chief executive officer of estate agent Savills PLC's principal UK subsidiary, as well as head of Global Residential.

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Laura Ashley Holdings PLC - Chief Executive Officer Kwan Cheong Ng steps down Thursday to become non-executive director. Had been expected to remain an executive director until end of April. Chief Operating Officer Katharine Poulter promoted to CEO.

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ConvaTec Group PLC - Hires Brian May as non-executive director from March 2. May was chief financial officer of Bunzl PLC from 2016 to 2019.

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RSA Insurance Group PLC - Alastair Barbour plans to step down as non-executive director in early October, having served nine years on the insurer's board. Clare Bousfield joins board on April 1 and will succeed Barbour as chair of audit committee in October.

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AFC Energy PLC - Company Secretary Graeme Lewis to become finance director as well.

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REACT Group PLC - Appoints Shaun Doak, managing director of REACT Specialist Cleaning Ltd, to board. Gill Leates moves from executive to non-executive chair. Both changes immediate.

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Open Orphan PLC - Chief Financial Officer Leo Toole added to board. Toole was interim CFO and then confirm as permanent earlier this month. He is a 20-year pharmaceuticals and medical technology veteran, having held senior finance positions at the US's Procter & Gamble Co and other multinationals.

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Frenkel Topping Group PLC - Elaine Cullen-Grant promoted from financial controller to the board as chief financial officer. Cullen-Grant succeeds Stephen Bentley, who retires on March 1.

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Dialight PLC - Karen Oliver and Gotthard Haug hired as non-executive directors from April 1. Oliver is former managing director of Johnson Matthey PLC's Chemicals business. Haug is executive chair of electronics repair and service provider Ivy Technology. Steve Good to step down as director from March 31.

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Baronsmead Second Venture Trust PLC - Tim Farazmand hired as independent non-executive director from May 1. Was chair of the British Venture Capital Association.

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By Tom Waite; thomaslwaite@alliancenews.com