Genus Regulatory News (GNS)

7 May 2009 07:00



For immediate release 7 May 2009

Genus plc

('Genus' or 'the Company')

Board Appointment

Genus, a leading global animal genetics company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Buzzacott as a non-executive director.

Mike Buzzacott spent 34 years at BP prior to his retirement in 2004, holding a number of international roles including Finance & Control Director Asia Pacific, CFO BP Nutrition and Group Vice President Petrochemicals. He is currently a non-executive director and Audit Committee chairman of Rexam Plc (retiring in May 2009) and Croda Plc. He is also a non-executive director of Scapa Plc. He was Chairman of Biofuels Plc from 2006 until its re-registration in 2007 as a private company.

Mike Buzzacott will chair the Company's Audit Committee and will be a member of the Remuneration Committee.

Commenting on the appointment, John Hawkins, Chairman of Genus, said:

"We are delighted to welcome Mike to the Board. He brings with him considerable experience gained in overseas international markets that will greatly benefit Genus during its next stage of strategic development and beyond."

There are no further details to be disclosed in respect of Mike Buzzacott under paragraph 9.6.13R of the Listing Rules of the UK Financial Services Authority.

For further information please contact:

Genus plc Tel: 01256 345970

John Hawkins, Chairman

Richard Wood, Chief Executive

Buchanan Communications Tel: 0207 466 5000

Charles Ryland , Isabel Podda

About Genus

Genus creates advances to animal breeding through biotechnology and sells added value products for livestock farming and food producers. It's non-Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) technology is applicable across all livestock species but is only commercialised by Genus in the bovine and porcine farming sectors.

Genus' worldwide sales are made in seventy countries under the trademarks "ABS" (dairy and beef cattle) and "PIC" (pigs) and comprise semen and breeding animals with superior genetics to those animals currently in production. Customers' animals produce offspring with greater production efficiency, milk and meat output and quality and use these to supply the global dairy and meat supply chain. 

The Group's competitive edge has been created from the ownership and control of proprietary lines of breeding animals, the biotechnology used to improve them and the Group's global production and distribution network.

Headquartered in Basingstoke, England, Genus companies operate in 30 countries on six continents, with research laboratories located in Madison, USA.