ARL.L Regulatory News (ARL)

25 Jan 2008 11:44

SMC Group Plc25 January 2008 SMC Group Plc ("SMC", the "Company" or the "Group") Directorate Changes SMC Group Plc, the architects and design business, is pleased to announce thatthe following changes to the Board of SMC will take place with effect from 1February 2008. Chris Littlemore (age 48) is to be appointed to the Board of SMC as ManagingDirector. Chris has extensive knowledge of the architectural sector having beeninvolved in the industry for over 25 years. Educated at Manchester and BathUniversities, Chris worked in private practice in Manchester and Leicesterbefore joining The Charter Partnership Limited in 1983. Chris qualified as anarchitect in 1984 and in 1989 he became a director of The Charter PartnershipLimited. In 1996 he was appointed as marketing director and in 2002 he becamethe managing director of The Charter Partnership Limited, leading the companythrough its acquisition by SMC in May 2006 when it became SMC CharterArchitects. Chris is active in the CBI and has participated in and sat on theCBI South-west Regional Council since 2002 and contributes to the CBI Regional Planning Forum. Additionally, Caroline Godfrey (age 49) is to be appointed to the Board of SMCas Finance Director and Company Secretary. After graduating from Oxford University with a BA in modern history, Caroline qualified as a chartered accountant in 1982 and worked in practice for 16 years. In 1998 Caroline joined The Charter Partnership Limited as finance director, overseeing a period of substantial growth in both turnover and profitability, and gaining a detailed knowledge of the architectural profession. After The Charter Partnership was acquired by SMC in May 2006, Caroline was appointed as SMC's Group Head of Finance in November 2006. Furthermore, Robert Boardman, the current Finance Director and Company Secretaryof the Group, will cease these roles to become Corporate Development Director.This new role will enable Robert to build on the successful work he has alreadycompleted for the Group in driving forward the Group's business strategy. Sir Rodney Walker will continue as Executive Chairman of the Group. Sir Rodney Walker, Executive Chairman, said "We are delighted to welcome Chrisand Caroline to the Board of SMC. They both bring considerable financial andprofessional experience to the Group and their appointment along with the newrole for Robert is a positive step forward for the Company. The appointments addconsiderable strength and balance to the Board and will enable the Group tocontinue to move forward with confidence following the recent restructuring andsuccessful completion of the Open Offer." The Company is required to disclose under the AIM Rules for Companies thefollowing information in relation to the appointments of Christopher PaulLittlemore and Caroline Mary Godfrey (nee Egerton) as directors of the Company. Director Current directorships and Directorships and partnerships held in partnerships held the last five yearsChris SMC Charter Architects NoneLittlemore Limited SMC Special Projects LimitedCaroline SMC Covell Matthews SMC Charter Architects LimitedGodfrey Architects Limited SMC Alsop Limited Chris Littlemore and Caroline Godfrey each hold 174,786 ordinary shares of onehalf pence each in the capital of the Company, each holding being approximately0.07 per cent. of the ordinary shares of the Company in issue. There is no further information, in connection with the appointments of ChrisLittlemore and Caroline Godfrey to the Board of SMC, which is required to bedisclosed in accordance with Rule 17 and Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules forCompanies. For further information: SMC Group Plc Tel: +44 (0)20 7495 5335Caroline Godfrey Numis Securities Limited Tel: +44 (0)20 7260 1000Stuart Skinner/Brent Nabbs/James Sergeant Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial Tel: +44 (0)20 7861 3232David Rydell/Antonia Coad -ends- This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange