PHC.L Regulatory News (PHC)

30 Oct 2008 16:01



30 October 2008

Plant Health Care plc

("Plant Health Care" or "the Company")

NEW BOARD APPOINTMENTS

Plant Health Care (AIM: PHC.L), a leading provider of natural products to the agriculture and landscape industries, announces that David Buckeridge and Jeremy Scudamore have been appointed to its Board as non-executive directors, with immediate effect.

Dr. David Buckeridge, PhD, Plant Sciences, 48, is currently non-executive director of Archimica BV (Netherlands), Oxitec Ltd and NLA FP Limited.

Dr. Buckeridge spent 20 years with multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, where he obtained significant experience in the pharmaceutical, genomics and chemical industries, with a particular emphasis on agribusiness. Dr. Buckeridge held a number of senior positions during his time at AstraZeneca, including five years spent running the company's commercial seed business in the United States. In 1999, he was appointed as a main board director of AstraZeneca's seeds business and then CEO of Advanta, then the largest independent agronomic seeds business in the world. 

Jeremy Scudamore, 61, is currently non-executive chairman of SkyePharma PLC, Oxford Advanced Surfaces PLC and Boardlink Group Limited. Mr Scudamore is also a non-executive director of ARM Holdings PLC and Oxford Catalysts Group PLC. 

Mr. Scudamore worked for 35 years in the life science, agrochemical and specialty chemical businesses of ICI, AstraZeneca and Avecia, latterly as chief executive officer and chairman of the Avecia Group. Previously chief executive officer of Zeneca Specialties, Mr Scudamore led the £1.3 billion buyout from AstraZeneca and successfully restructured the Group into a pure biotechnology company.

Dr. Albert Fischer, Non-executive Chairman of Plant Health Care commented: "David and Jeremy have many years of board experience at public and private companies. They have an excellent understanding of the agricultural and agrichemical business domains, as well as the commercialisation of technologies through partnerships. This expertise will undoubtedly be a great asset to Plant Health Care as we continue to grow the business and create value for our shareholders."

There is no other information that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Schedule 2 paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules, save as set out below:

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