M&C Saatchi Regulatory News (SAA)

M&C Saatchi plc appoints Deputy Chairman and Chairman of Audit Committee

M&C Saatchi plc today announces the appointment of two new Independent Non-Executive Directors.

Gareth Davis will join the Board as Non-Executive Deputy Chairman on 3 February 2020.

Colin Jones will join the Board as Non-Executive Director, and Chairman of the Board's Audit Committee, on 3 February 2020.

The Board intends to appoint additional Non-Executive Directors and will make further announcements in due course. As previously announced, once in place, the Board's Non-Executive Directors, led by Gareth Davis, will conduct a full review of the Company's governance.

Gareth Davis has extensive Board experience, both as an Executive and Non-Executive Director, at some of the world's leading companies. He has been Chairman of DS Smith Plc, a FTSE 100 packaging business, since 2012, having joined the company's Board in 2010. Gareth is also a Non-Executive Director of Gresham House Plc, the asset manager. Previously, Gareth sat on the Board of Ferguson Plc, the FTSE 100 building materials business, between 2003 and 2019, spending the last nine years as Chairman. He was Chairman of William Hill Plc, the FTSE 250 betting and gaming company, between 2010 and 2018. Gareth was Chief Executive of Imperial Tobacco Group Plc (now Imperial Brands plc), between 1996 and 2010, having joined the business in 1972. 

Colin Jones has significant media sector and finance expertise. He is currently Non-Executive Chairman of Centaur Media Plc, the market intelligence company, having joined the business in 2018 as a Non-Executive Director. Colin is also a Non-Executive Director of City Lit, the adult education college. Colin previously spent over 20 years as Finance Director of Euromoney Institutional Investor Plc, the FTSE 250-listed media company, until he retired from the company in 2018. Prior to joining Euromoney, Colin was a Director at Price Waterhouse, where he qualified as a chartered accountant (FCA) and spent eight years in the firm's audit practice.

Jeremy Sinclair, Chairman of M&C Saatchi plc, said: "We are delighted to welcome Gareth Davis and Colin Jones to the Board. Both have extensive public company experience at the highest levels. We look forward to working with them to restore the company's health and reputation. We hope to be able to announce the additional Non-Executives in the near future."

In accordance with Schedule Two paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies, the following information in relation to the appointments of Gareth Davis and Colin Jones are disclosed:

Gareth holds or has held directorships/partnerships in the five years preceding his appointment at the Company as follows:

Current directorships/partnerships:

DS Smith Plc

Gresham House Plc

J&A Mentoring Partners Ltd

Previous directorships/partnerships:

Ferguson Plc

William Hill Plc

Imperial Tobacco Plc

Colin holds or has held directorships/partnerships in the five years preceding his appointment at the Company as follows:

Current directorships/partnerships:

Centaur Media Plc

City Lit

Previous directorships:

Euromoney Institutional Investor Plc

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For further information please call:

M&C Saatchi +44 (0)20-7543-4500David Kershaw, Jeremy Sinclair

Tulchan Communications +44 (0)20-7353-4200Tom Murray, Deborah Roney

Numis Securities +44 (0)20-7260-1000Nick Westlake, Hugo Rubinstein, NOMADCharles Farquhar, Corporate Broking