Assetco Regulatory News (ASTO)

20 Aug 2007 07:01

AssetCo PLC20 August 2007 For Immediate Release 20th August 2007 AssetCo plc HER MAJESTY'S CHIEF INSPECTOR IN SCOTLAND, JEFF ORD, CBE TO JOIN ASSETCO AssetCo plc ("AssetCo") is pleased to announce the establishment of its newEmergency Resource division and the appointment of Jeff Ord, CBE, as itsManaging Director. This new division will further extend AssetCo's existingposition as the leading provider of managed service solutions to the Fire andRescue Service ("FRS") by providing recruitment, training, and human resourcesolutions to the Emergency Services. Mr Ord is currently Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services inScotland with responsibility for performance, inspections and the reform ofScotland's FRS, as well as being an advisor to the UK Government on FRS relatedissues. A member of the FRS for 40 years, Mr Ord has held senior positions in a numberof FRSs throughout the UK including 17 years as a Chief Fire Officer. During hiscareer he has also held several other senior posts, including as Leadership andManagement Tutor at the Fire Service College, Chairman of the Commonwealth andOverseas Fire Association, and President of the UK Chief Fire OfficersAssociation. Most significantly, he was previously a Director of the UKGovernment Task Force on Diversity and Equality. Mr Ord's expertise in organisational restructuring in the Emergency Services hasbeen universally recognised and he has been engaged to provide advice in thisarea by the Governments of South Africa, Poland and the Ukraine. In June 2006,he was appointed by the Scottish Executive to lead a review of the effectivenessof all three Scottish Emergency Services' plans to deal with simultaneous majoremergencies, including terrorist attack. John Shannon, Chief Executive Officer of AssetCo, commented, "This is a verysignificant announcement for us. The Fire and Rescue Service and other EmergencyServices are under immense pressure these days to serve an ever increasing anddemanding spread of responsibilities. Managing, motivating and retaining skilledstaff is by far their greatest area of investment and the challenges for thoseseeking to recruit, re-skill and retain the best and brightest to meet theseresponsibilities have never been greater. Jeff has great strategic ability andan impeccable track record in change and resource management in this highlycomplex sector. We have no doubt he will lead our new division to the forefrontof the market." Mr Ord commented, "I am delighted with my forthcoming appointment. In recentyears the name AssetCo has become synonymous with the principles ofcollaboration and partnership within the FRS. The team has already demonstratedoutstanding innovation providing specialist vehicle and equipment managedservices solutions. The development into identifying and delivering humanresource solutions is a natural step which serves to consolidate the Company'sposition as private sector thought leaders to the FRS." For further information please contact: AssetCo Plc 020 85153999John Shannon: Chief Executive Officer Buchanan Communications 020 7466 5000Tim Anderson / Isabel Podda Notes to editors: Mr Ord has been awarded the Queen's Fire Service Medal and an Honorary Doctoratefrom Glasgow University. AssetCo plc, (AIM : ASTO) is a leading provider of managed services to theemergency and homeland securities markets in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.AssetCo plc was admitted to AIM in March 2007 and is incorporated in England.The company employs around 500 people in eight locations. Subsidiaries of AssetCo plc include: AssetCo Emergency LimitedPapworth Specialist Vehicles LimitedAS Fire and Rescue LimitedCollins YouldonFSE LimitedTodd Research LimitedBlueAmberRed LimitedSimentra Limited www.assetco.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange