3 May 2017 07:00
3 May 2017
Porta Communications Plc
("Porta" or "the Company")
Board Changes and Notice of Results
Porta Communications Plc today announces the following senior management changes, all with immediate effect, and gives notice of its full year results.
• David Wright has decided to retire. He has therefore stepped down as Executive Chairman and has left the Board.
• John Foley, previously the Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, has become NonExecutive Chairman.
• Gene Golembiewski, previously the CFO, will remain an Executive Director. He will take on a more commercial role and remains Company Secretary.
• Rhydian Bankes, previously the Company's Head of Group Finance, has become CFO and a director of Porta.
Commenting on the announcement, Steffan Williams, CEO, said:
"I would like to thank David for all his hard work in getting Porta to where it is today. David helped start Porta and played a key part in taking the company from its start-up phase to becoming a significant independent company within the strategic communications advisory market. We wish him well in his retirement.
"We are fortunate to be able to appoint John Foley to the role of Non-Executive Chairman. He is already our Senior Independent Non-Executive Director and brings a wealth of experience. He is currently Chairman of two other successful AIM quoted companies (Premier Technical Services Group PLC and Servoca PLC). I'm looking forward to working with John as our Chairman.
"During the four years that Gene has been CFO, he has played a key role in the Group's development, and I'm pleased to say that we will continue to draw on his considerable international and commercial experience. I'm also delighted to welcome Rhydian to the role of CFO.
"As CEO, I'm both honoured and excited by the prospect of leading Porta into the next phase of the Company's development." David Wright said:
"It's with great pride that I step down from the Board of Porta. We have built a remarkable business in a very short period of time and I want to thank all my colleagues for their hard work and support. I know I am putting Porta into good hands and that it is well placed for the next phase of the Company's growth. I remain a seriously committed investor".
The Group will announce its results for the 12 month period ending 31 December 2016 on 11 May 2017.
Further information on Rhydian Nicholas Wynne Bankes (Age 33):
Rhydian joined Porta in January 2016 from PWC, where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant and spent eight years working across a broad range of service lines, including Assurance and Regulatory Advisory. As Porta's Head of Group Finance, Rhydian has worked on the integration of financial systems throughout the Group, restructuring underperforming subsidiaries and leading all areas of financial reporting. Rhydian is a graduate of Edinburgh University.
There is no further information required to be disclosed in respect of the above appointment pursuant to Schedule 2 (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies.
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The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.
Enquiries
Porta Communications Plc
Steffan Williams, CEO
Rhydian Bankes, CFO
www.portacomms.com
+44 (0) 20 7680 6500
Grant Thornton UK LLP (Nominated Adviser)
Philip Secrett
Samantha Harrison
Daniel Bush
+44 (0) 207 383 5100
N+1 Singer (Broker)
James Maxwell
Lauren Kettle
+44 (0) 20 7496 3000
Newgate Communications (Media Enquiries)
Bob Huxford
Adam Lloyd
James Ash
+44 (0) 20 7680 6500
Notes to Editors:
Porta is a fully integrated communications and marketing group with specialisms including financial, corporate and consumer public relations, public affairs and research and multi-capability marketing, brand and creative communications.
The Group has offices in Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Brisbane, Bristol, Canberra, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Hong Kong, London, Manchester, Melbourne, Singapore and Sydney.
The brands and companies it owns are: Newgate Communications, PPS Group, Redleaf Communications, Publicasity, 2112 Communications and Summit Marketing Services.
Porta Communications' corporate website is - www.portacomms.com