Last checked at 20 Dec 2021 07:00
20 December 2021
J D WETHERSPOON PLC
Wetherspoon Appoints Employee Directors
After consultation with shareholders and employees, it was felt that the company would benefit from having more pub experience at board level.
As a result, suitable applicants from within the company were invited to apply.
Over one hundred applications were received from talented and experienced managers.
After a thorough selection process, four appointments have been made - two as employee directors with full plc director status, and two as associate employee directors.
The appointments are effective from 20 December 2021 and have been made for an initial three-year term.
The employee directors are:
Debbie Whittingham - regional manager for the West Midlands. Debbie joined Wetherspoon as a shift manager in 1992 and was appointed as a pub manager in 1993 and as an area manager in 2002. Debbie is chair of the company's Women's Network Group and was named Wetherspoon's 'Area Manager of the Year' in 2014.
Hudson Simmons - area manager for Sheffield. Hudson joined Wetherspoon as a shift manager in 1997, was appointed as a pub manager in 2003 and as an area manager in 2014. In 2010, he was named 'Pub Manager of the Year'.
There are no further matters which require to be disclosed pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.13 regarding Debbie or Hudson.
The associate employee directors are:
Will Fotheringham - regional manager for the Manchester area. Will joined Wetherspoon as a shift manager in 1998, was appointed as a pub manager in 2000 and as an area manager in 2006. He was awarded 'Area Manager of the Year' in 2011 and ALMR* 'Area Manager of the Year' in 2013.
*(Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers - now called UK Hospitality).
Emma Gibson - pub manager of the Imperial, Exeter. Emma joined Wetherspoon as a bar associate in 2004 and was appointed as a pub manager in 2010. She is chair of the 'Best Bar None' groups for Torquay and Exeter and, in 2019, received the Commissioner's Award from the Police and Crime Commissioner of Devon & Cornwall Police for services to Best Bar None.
Wetherspoon Chairman, Tim Martin, said:
"A successful pub company depends primarily on gradual improvements, based on suggestions from employees.
"Pub and area managers, and other members of pub teams, have always participated in weekly decision-making meetings, which distil suggestions from the 'front line'.
"The appointment of employee directors will extend this approach to board meetings and will help to preserve the culture of the company for the future.
"Wetherspoon is pleased to welcome Debbie, Hudson, Will and Emma to their new roles."
Enquiries:
John Hutson Chief Executive Officer 07970 477377
Ben Whitley Finance Director 07970 477428
Eddie Gershon Company Spokesman 07956 392234
Please send any questions by email to investorqueries@jdwetherspoon.co.uk
Notes to editors
1. J D Wetherspoon owns and operates pubs throughout the UK. The company aims to provide customers with good-quality food and drink, served by well-trained and friendly staff, at reasonable prices. The pubs are individually designed, and the company aims to maintain them in excellent condition.
2. Visit our website: www.jdwetherspoon.com
3. This announcement has been prepared solely to provide additional information to the shareholders of J D Wetherspoon, to meet the requirements of the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules. It should not be relied on by any other party, for any other purposes. Forward-looking statements have been made by the directors in good faith, using information available up until the date on which they approved this statement. Forward-looking statements should be regarded with caution, because of the inherent uncertainties in economic trends and business risks.
4. The current financial year comprises 53 trading weeks to 31 July 2022.