2 May 2019 07:00
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | 2 May 2019 |
Dignity plc
('the Company')
Directorate Changes
As announced in May 2018, Peter Hindley, who has been Non-Executive Chairman since 2009, indicated to the Board that he would like to retire from the Board in 2019. The process of identifying a successor began in the summer of last year and the Board made good progress in identifying a suitable candidate. However, given the significant changes that are being made to the operating model of the Company and the current level of uncertainty surrounding the funeral industry, and after consulting with major shareholders, the Board has concluded that the role and experience needed had changed and accordingly the search process to select a new Chairman was amended. The Board had hoped to be in a position to announce Peter's replacement at the time of the Company AGM on 13 June but it is unlikely that will now be achieved.
Accordingly, Peter has decided to retire from the Board at the AGM on 13 June 2019 and the Board has agreed that David Blackwood, the current Senior Independent Director, will take the role at the AGM of Interim Chairman until a permanent successor is found.
The Board would like to thank Peter for his 28 years of service to the Company in its various forms where amongst many achievements he led the Management Buyout in 2002, the whole business securitisation in 2003 and the successful IPO on the London Stock Exchange in 2004. He has made an outstanding contribution to Dignity over those many years and we wish him the very best in his well-deserved retirement.
The Company is pleased to announce that James Wilson joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director on 1st May 2019. James has also been appointed as a member of the Nomination Committee. James is a partner at Phoenix Asset Management Partners Ltd ('Phoenix') and manages The Huginn Fund.
As of the 4th April 2019, the funds managed by Phoenix held 26.7 per cent of the Company's shares. James holds no shares directly in the Company but his wife owns 1,000 shares. Through his wife's shares and his association with Phoenix, James has an indirect beneficial interest in the ordinary shares of the Company. James does not, however, control how the shares in the Company are voted.
James joined Phoenix in 2013. Before Phoenix, James spent three years at Aviva Investors in the Pan-European equity team. James holds a masters degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Durham and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. James is a Non-Executive Director of Hornby Plc.
We are pleased to welcome James to Dignity's Board.
No information is required to be disclosed pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.13.
In addition to a permanent Chairman, it is the intention of the Board to appoint additional independent Non-Executive Directors that have the necessary experience and expertise to assist the Board in the transformation plan and future growth of the business. The process to identify candidates has commenced with a view to the Company's Board comprising in the long term a majority of independent Non-Executive Directors.
For more information
Mike McCollum, Chief Executive
Steve Whittern, Finance Director
Dignity plc +44 (0)20 7466 5000
Richard Oldworth
Chris Lane
Catriona Flint
Buchanan +44 (0)20 7466 5000
www.buchanan.uk.com Dignity@buchanan.uk.com