Last checked at 30 Sep 2014 07:00
Stock Exchange Release
30 September 2014
Directorate Change
André Lacroix to become Chief Executive in May 2015
Intertek Group plc (Intertek) is pleased to announce the appointment of André Lacroix as Chief Executive with effect from 16 May 2015, at which point he will join the Intertek Board. André will succeed Wolfhart Hauser, 64, who will step down from the Board and retire on 15 May 2015 after ten years as Chief Executive. Wolfhart will remain available to support André as required until the end of December 2015.
André will join Intertek from Inchcape plc where he has been Chief Executive since 2005. André has significant international leadership experience across various industries and a strong track record of delivering long-term growth strategies across diverse territories. Over the past nine years he has successfully led Inchcape's diversified portfolio of automotive services, a £6.5 billion revenue business operating across 26 countries. André is currently the Senior Independent Director of Reckitt Benckiser Group plc and Chairman of Good Restaurants AG. André was previously Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Euro Disney S.C.A. Prior to this he was the President of Burger King International, whilst part of Diageo.
Sir David Reid, Chairman of Intertek said:
"I am delighted to announce André's appointment to succeed Wolfhart next year. André will bring an impressive combination of experience to our business, having led multinational corporations across a diverse range of industries most recently with Inchcape over the past nine years. He has consistently succeeded in driving growth and performance in his career and has the right qualities to lead Intertek in its next phase of growth.
"We thank Wolfhart for his exceptional leadership over the past decade. Under his guidance Intertek has developed from a medium-sized group of separate testing businesses into a large integrated global organisation with a successful strategy that has delivered impressive growth over ten years. I would like to thank Wolfhart on behalf of the Board, our customers, our people and our shareholders, for his commitment and significant contribution to Intertek."
Commenting on his appointment André Lacroix said:
"I am very much looking forward to joining Intertek. Intertek is an exciting company positively influencing the health, safety and environmental impact of industries worldwide and its financial and operational track record over the years is impressive. I look forward to working with David, the Board, and Intertek's talented management team, and people worldwide, to begin the next exciting chapter of Intertek's growth."
In accordance with obligations under Listing Rule 9.6.13R, André holds or has held the following directorships of a publicly quoted company in the previous five years:
· Inchcape plc
· Reckitt Benckiser Group plc
There is no other information required to be disclosed under Listing Rule 9.6.13R.
André Lacroix biography
André has significant international leadership experience across various industries and a strong track record of delivering long-term growth strategies across diverse territories. Since 2005, André has been Chief Executive of Inchcape plc, a £6.5 billion revenue global automotive services group operating in 26 countries. Under Andre's Leadership Inchcape has strengthened its position in the global automotive market by making customer service its competitive advantage, by focusing its investments in premium and luxury segments, by implementing industry leading operating processes and by attracting and developing the best talent in the industry. Inchcape has a track record of delivering double digit earnings growth with strong cash generation and has created significant shareholder value as its market capitalisation has more than doubled since his appointment as Chief Executive in 2005.
André was previously Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Euro Disney S.C.A, from 2003 until 2005. During his tenure he initiated a long-term, customer oriented growth strategy and completed its financial restructuring. From 1996 to 2003 he held a series of senior international roles at Burger King International, previously part of Diageo. As president of Burger King International's operations from 2001 to 2003 he was responsible for all operations outside North America. In this role he expanded its geographic footprint to cover some 3,000 sites and 55 countries, improved the operating processes to deliver superior product quality and customer service, upgraded the innovation capability of the organisation and led the transition from Diageo ownership to an international consortium of buyers. From 1988 to 1996, Andre held several international assignments with Pepsico and he previously worked for Colgate Palmolive.
André is currently the Senior Independent Director of Reckitt Benckiser Group plc and Chairman of Good Restaurants AG.
ENDS
Contacts:
Sarah Ogilvie, Investor Relations Intertek Group plc - Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7396 3400
sarah.ogilvie@intertek.com
Richard Mountain, FTI Consulting - Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3727 1374
richard.mountain@fticonsulting.com
About Intertek
Intertek is a leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide. From auditing and inspection, to testing, training, advisory, quality assurance and certification, Intertek adds value to customers' products, processes and assets. With a network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 36,000 people in more than 100 countries, Intertek supports companies' success in a global marketplace. Intertek helps its customers to meet end users' expectations for safety, sustainability, performance, integrity and desirability in virtually any market worldwide. Intertek Group plc (LSE: ITRK) is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Visit www.intertek.com