1 Mar 2019 09:35
ELECTROCOMPONENTS PLC ("the Company")
Directorate Change
1 March 2019
Electrocomponents appoints new Non-Executive Director
Electrocomponents plc is pleased to announce the appointment of Bessie Lee as a Non-Executive Director of the Company with immediate effect. She will also be a member of the Nomination Committee.
Based in China, Bessie is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Withinlink, a China-based venture capital firm and start-up incubator which she founded in 2015. She is a Non-Executive Director of Ecovacs Robotics, a Shanghai-listed technology company that designs, manufactures and sells robotic products, and United Group, one of Taiwan's leading conglomerates. She also acts as an Advisor to Didi Chuxing and Greater Pacific Capital. Previously, she has held Chief Executive Officer roles at Mindshare, GroupM and WPP in China. Further details are included below.
Peter Johnson commented: "We are all delighted that Bessie will be joining the Electrocomponents Board. Bessie has had several significant management roles in China, one of our key strategic markets, including the CEO of China for WPP, the global media and advertising company. She will bring deep insight into the customer dynamics in China as well as helping increase the Board's understanding of the fast moving high technology market. Bessie will also greatly strengthen our digital marketing and media knowledge on the Board."
There is no additional information to disclose in relation to LR 9.6.13.
Ian Haslegrave
Company Secretary
1 March 2019
Polly Elvin, Head of Investor Relations Electrocomponents plc 0207 239 8400
Martin Robinson/ David Allchurch Tulchan Communications 0207 353 4200
Note to Editors:
Bessie Lee - Career Summary
Bessie built her career in WPP firstly in Taiwan and then, from 2002, in mainland China. Between 2013 and 2017, Bessie was CEO of China for WPP. Before this she was previously CEO of Mindshare China (2004 - 2005) and Managing Director of MindShare Shanghai (2002 - 2003). She spent her earlier career at WPP-owned JWT and MindShare in Taiwan.
Bessie is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Withinlink, a China-based venture capital firm and start-up incubator focused on marketing technology for China's advertising, media and communications industries. Founded by Bessie in 2015, Withinlink focuses on nurturing young entrepreneurs and young companies to help them succeed in the marketing and advertising technology field in the Greater China region.
Bessie is currently a Non-Executive Director of United Group, one of Taiwan's leading conglomerates. Its businesses include manufacturing, education (it runs schools and universities), medical (it operates a hospital), leisure and real estate. She is also a Non-Executive Directors of Ecovacs Robotics, a Shanghai-listed technology company that designs, manufactures and sells robotic products.
Bessie acts as a strategic advisor to Didi Chuxing, formerly Didi Kuaidi, a Chinese ride-sharing, artificial intelligence and autonomous technology conglomerate, headquartered in Beijing, and an advisor to Greater Pacific Capital, an investing institution designed to identify and develop investing opportunities in and between the high growth market of India and other international economies.