20 Apr 2020 16:42
20 April 2020
Blue Prism Group plc
('Blue Prism' or 'the Company' or 'the Group')
DIRECTORATE CHANGE
Blue Prism today announces that Alastair Bathgate will be stepping down from his role as Chief Executive Officer and from the Blue Prism Board on 30 April to focus on other opportunities. Alastair will continue to support the progress of the Group on an advisory basis in the role of Founder.
This development comes as the next stage in a journey along which Alastair has steered Blue Prism from its initial start-up phase in 2001, through several years of rapid growth and its IPO on the AIM market in 2016, to building the Group into its status today as a global market leader in a significant software category.
Dr. Jason Kingdon, who as Executive Chairman became responsible for Blue Prism's go‐to‐market and product functions when he resumed an executive role in October 2019, will assume Alastair's responsibilities in an expanded role as Chairman and CEO.
Alastair Bathgate, departing CEO, said:
"Whilst, after 18 extremely enjoyable years, I am sad to be stepping out of an executive role, I remain a fervent supporter and major shareholder of Blue Prism and will be cheering from the sidelines, as well as being available to advise and assist where needed. I am also looking forward to working with other UK tech companies and helping them to scale. The team we built at Blue Prism is world class; I know the Company is in safe hands and well positioned to continue to grow and dominate the software category that we created."
Dr. Jason Kingdon, Executive Chairman, commented:
"Alastair co-founded Blue Prism and has led the business through many important milestones, including its highly successful IPO in 2016. His leadership has stewarded the Group through a period of hyper growth, growing to over a thousand employees, while building a global customer base covering 70 commercial sectors. Alastair has helped create one of the most successful technology companies in the UK, one that has even created its own market. On behalf of the Board I would like to thank Alastair for his significant contribution and wish him the very best for the future."
Following this change, three fifths of the Board will be constituted of independent non-executive directors, with Chris Batterham continuing in the role of Deputy Chairman to ensure appropriate independent governance.
CONTACT DETAILS
For further information please contact:
Blue Prism Group plc
Tom Hull, Head of Investor Relations +44 (0)77 3670 7407
Investec Bank plc +44 (0)20 7597 5970
Andrew Pinder
Sebastian Lawrence
Carlton Nelson
Ben Griffiths
FTI Consulting +44 (0)20 3727 1000
Matt Dixon
Dwight Burden