Ocado Hires Ferguson Boss, Ex-Pearson Director To Replace Non-Execs

LONDON (Alliance News) - Ocado Group PLC on Thursday said John Martin and Claudia Arney will join the board in June and September, respectively, to replace outgoing non-executive directors Ruth Anderson and Douglas McCallum.

In addition, the FTSE 100-listed company said Independent Non-Executive Director Andrew Harrison has been appointed as senior independent director & designated director for engagement with the company's workforce with immediate effect.

Harrison has served on the online grocer's board since March 2016 and is chair of the Remuneration Committee.

Meanwhile, having joined the board prior to the company's listing, Anderson will have served over nine years on the Ocado board and as chair of the Audit Committee.

McCallum was chair of the Remuneration Committee for five and a half years. On retirement, he will have served almost eight years on the Ocado board.

"Their [Anderson and McCallum] contribution to the board over a period of transformational change has been significant to the company's success. We wish them well for the future," said Ocado Chair Stuart Rose.

"I am delighted to welcome Claudia and John to our board. They possess a wealth of experience and a diverse array of skills which are highly complementary to those already on the Board," added Rose.

Martin, who currently serves as chief executive of plumbing and heating products firm Ferguson PLC, brings a wealth of international operational and financial experience, Ocado said. His previous senior roles include recruitment company Hays PLC, foreign exchange firm Travelex Group and investment firm Alchemy Partners.

Arney brings extensive experience including of business transformation and the technology sector, the company said, with previous senior roles at media company Ascential PLC, publisher Pearson PLC and banking company Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Her current non-executive roles include insurer Aviva PLC, retailer Kingfisher PLC and property investor Derwent London PLC.

Ocado shares were trading 5.7% higher on Thursday at 1,364.00 pence each.