Last checked at 25 May 2010 10:45
25 May 2010
DILLISTONE GROUP PLC
BOARD APPOINTMENT
Dillistone Group Plc ("Dillistone" or the "Company"), the AIM quoted supplier of recruitment software, is pleased to announce that Giles Robin Fearnley will join the board of Dillistone ("Board") as a Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 June 2010.
Giles, 55, is an experienced business man who has 35 years' experience in the passenger transport industry, spanning both rail and bus. Having been one of the founders of Prism Rail PLC he then led that group as chief executive from its formation through to its sale to National Express PLC in 2000. Prism Rail operated four of the UK's passenger rail franchises WAGN, C2C, Wales & West and Valley Lines. Giles additionally served as chairman of ATOC in 1999 and 2000. Giles was instrumental in leading a management buy-out of Blazefield Holdings in 1991 encompassing a portfolio of bus businesses across Yorkshire and Lancashire. Having sold the group to Transdev plc in early 2006, he stayed on as its chief executive for a further two years. Giles was President of the Confederation of Passenger Transport (UK) in 2008 and in April 2009 was appointed its first non-executive Chairman.
Mike Love, Chairman of Dillistone, commented:
"We are delighted to welcome Giles to the Board and look forward to working with him in his capacity as Non-Executive Director. We believe that Giles' wealth of experience as an entrepreneur, successful businessman and as a director of both private and public companies will be invaluable to Company in terms of its continued development and promotion."
Giles is currently a director of the following companies:
GTV Screen Media Limited
North Yorkshire Moors Railway Enterprises plc
Lynfield Leasing Limited
Confederation of Passenger Transport UK
Sovereign Trains Limited
GCRC Holdings Limited
Grand Central Railway Company Limited
Grand Union Railway Company Limited
GURC Holdings Limited
CNRE Limited
CSRE Limited
Grand Northern Railway Company Limited
Grand North Eastern Railway Company Limited
Transdev plc
Media 42 Limited
Subtv Limited
Dales and Bowland Community Interest Company
Oval (2207) Limited
Deramore Limited
Giles is also a partner of Abellio Non Executives GmbH and Co KG.
In the past 5 years Giles has been a director of the following companies:
Transdev Blazefield Limited
Blazefield Buses Limited
Keighley & District Travel Limited
Blazefield Travel Group Limited
Harrogate & District Travel Limited
Heathrow Coach Services Limited
Transdev Claims Investigations Limited
Yorkshire Coastliner Limited
Lancashire United Limited
Burnley & Pendle Travel Limited
Open Roads Limited
Tourkits Limited
Confederation of Passenger Transport UK
Advenza Freight Limited
Cotswold Rail Engineering Limited
Nottingham City Transport Limited
Sovereign Bus & Coach Company Limited
Welwyn & Hatfield Line Bus Company Limited
Blackburn Transport Limited
Burnley and Pendle Transport Company Limited
Sovereign Hst Limited
Abellio GmbH
Giles Fearnley was a director of Advenza Freight Limited, a rail freight business, between 21 September 2004 and 15 May 2009. On 7 October 2009 the company was placed into a compulsory liquidation. The Official Receivers report to the creditors estimated the deficiency (excess of liabilities over assets) to be £3,417,664. The liquidation is still ongoing.
In addition, Giles was a director of Cotswold Rail Engineering Limited, the holding company of Advenza Freight Limited, between 20 December 2005 and 15 May 2009 which was placed into a voluntary creditors liquidation on 23 December 2009. The Official Receivers report to the creditors estimated the deficiency (excess of liabilities over assets) to be £2,109,499. The liquidation is still ongoing.
The majority of the creditors of Advenza Freight Limited and of Cotswold Rail Engineering Limited are directors or former directors of the respective company or companies controlled by directors or former directors of the respective company.
Giles currently holds 331,145 ordinary shares of 5 pence each in Dillistone which represents approximately 5.84% of the issued share capital of the Company.
In accordance with paragraph (g) of Schedule Two to the AIM Rules for Companies, the Company confirms that there are no further matters to be disclosed in respect of Giles Fearnley's appointment.
Contacts:
Mike Love Dillistone Group Plc 0207 749 6100
Chairman
Jason Starr Dillistone Group Plc 0207 749 6100
Managing Director
Emily Staples (Nomad) Religare Capital Markets 0207 444 0800
Daniel Briggs (Broker) Religare Capital Markets 0207 444 0500