Checkit Regulatory News (CKT)

Elektron plc

Changes to directorate

Further to the announcement on 15 September 2010 that the Offer by Elektron Plc ("Elektron" or "the Company") for Hartest Holdings Plc ("Hartest") has closed, Elektron announces that Chris Leigh has, as planned, stepped down as Group Finance Director and Geoff Spink has been appointed in his place.

Geoff Spink is the former Group Chief Executive of Hartest. He is a chartered accountant and has some 30 years of leadership experience in UK listed companies, venture capital-backed and private companies, including more than 10 years as Group Managing Director of Protean plc. Protean plc was a main market listed group specialising in scientific equipment and consumables, whose annual sales grew from £10 million to £82 million under his tenure. Following its sale in 1998 to a US acquirer, Geoff left Protean and became chief executive of Trident Analytical Limited, a private equity backed company in the specialist instrumentation sector.

Keith Daley, Chairman of Elektron said:

"Chris Leigh joined the Board of Elektron Plc as Group Finance Director in 1992 and has played a significant part in its development from a small UK loss-making Group with sales of £9 million to a profitable technology based company with annualised reported sales exceeding £60million. It is no exaggeration to say that Chris was instrumental in the Group's survival in the early years of the current millennium. He is leaving to pursue other interests with warm thanks from the Board for his considerable contribution.

We welcome Geoff Spink as our new Group Finance Director. His experience in the instrumentation sector will be invaluable as we move to integrate Hartest within the Elektron Group."

The following disclosures are required regarding the Board appointment pursuant to Schedule 2 paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies:

Geoff was a director of several subsidiaries of Trident Group, of which the following were put into administrative receivership in August 2001 with a combined estimated deficiency as regards creditors of approximately £19 million:

Trident Analytical Limited

Trident Ventures Limited

G Cussons Limited

G Cussons Holdings Limited

Trident Overseas Holdings Limited

Geoff was also a director of Optim Electronics Limited, another subsidiary of Trident Group, from which he resigned in September 2001. Administrative receivers were appointed in January 2002 and the estimated deficiency as regards creditors was £17,000.

Geoff was appointed a director of TTG Europe plc (formerly The Telecommunications Group plc) in February 2004. The company went into administration in May 2005 with an estimated deficiency as regards creditors of approximately £11 million and Geoff resigned in May 2005. 

There are no further disclosures required to be made relating to Geoff Spink under Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules for Companies.

For further information please contact:

15 September 2010