2 Feb 2023 11:10
Updated to clarify Jon Akehurst was most recently at Terumo Corporation as CFO of their Aortic division. All other information remains unchanged.
2 February 2023
HOTEL CHOCOLAT GROUP PLC
("Hotel Chocolat", the "Company" or the "Group")
Appointment of Chief Financial Officer
Hotel Chocolat Group plc, a premium British chocolate maker, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jon Akehurst as the Company's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and as an Executive Board Director. He will join the Company and Board when his appointment becomes effective in May 2023.
Jon is a Chartered Accountant, and his career includes management and leadership roles with General Mills, Mars, Aggreko and most recently at Terumo Corporation as CFO of their Aortic division. He has extensive experience across branded goods, manufacturing and international development.
Further to the Company's announcement on 1 December 2022, Matt Pritchard stepped down as CFO on 31 January after 9 years with the Company. Hotel Chocolat Co-Founder and Chartered Accountant, Peter Harris, will be Interim CFO until Jon arrives.
Angus Thirlwell, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hotel Chocolat, said:
"Jon joins at an exciting time for Hotel Chocolat. His skills will underpin our determination to get back to running a tight ship operating model, with EBITDA of 20%+ in 2025 within our sights."
In accordance with Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules for Companies, the names of all companies and partnerships of which Jonathan Firth Akehurst, aged 40, is or has been a director or partner at any time in the previous five years are set out below:
Current directorships and/or partnerships | Previous directorships and/or partnerships (in the last five years) |
Terumo Aortic Limited | Aggreko International Projects Limited |
Vascutek Limited | Aggreko Employment Services Limited |
Serom Medical Technology SRL | Kellogg Marketing and Sales Company (UK) Limited |
Kellogg Manchester Limited | |
KJAL Limited | |
Kellogg UK Minor Limited |
Jon currently holds 613 ordinary shares in Hotel Chocolat and will join the Hotel Chocolat LTIP upon commencement of his role.
Save as set out in this announcement, there are no further details to be disclosed under Rule 17 or Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules for Companies in respect of Jon.
Enquiries:
Hotel Chocolat Group PLC | Tel: +44 (0) 1763 257 746 |
Angus Thirlwell, Co-Founder and CEO | |
Peter Harris, Co-Founder, and Interim CFO | |
Liberum (Nominated Adviser and Sole Broker) | Tel: +44 (0) 20 3100 2000 |
Clayton Bush | |
Edward Thomas | |
Miquela Bezuidenhoudt | |
Citigate Dewe Rogerson | Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7638 9571 |
Angharad Couch | |
Ellen Wilton | |
Alex Winch |
Notes to Editors:
Hotel Chocolat is a premium British chocolate maker with a strong and distinctive D2C brand. The business was founded by Angus Thirlwell and Peter Harris, who are still executives within the business, and has traded under the Hotel Chocolat brand since 2003. The Group is unusual in being a grower (organic cacao farm in Saint Lucia), a manufacturer (Cambridgeshire) and owning its extensive direct to consumer channels (branded stores, websites). The Group was admitted to trading on AIM in 2016.