21 Jan 2013 07:00
21 January 2013
Stobart Group Limited
("Stobart" or "the Group")
Board Changes
Retirement of Non-Executive Chairman and a Non-Executive Director
Appointment of Executive Chairman
Stobart Group, the leading provider of UK support services, announces that Rodney Baker-Bates, the current non-Executive Chairman, has decided to retire as Non Executive Chairman with immediate effect. Rodney has served as non-Executive Chairman of Stobart Group since September 2007. Rodney will remain on the Board as a Non-Executive Director and leave the Board in March. David Beever, a non-Executive director, has also decided to step down from the board with immediate effect to devote more time to his other business commitments, which are demanding more of his time. He has served on the board since early 2011.
To help focus efforts on achieving the strong potential in Stobart's group of businesses and assets the board has decided to appoint Avril Palmer-Baunack as Executive Chairman with immediate effect. Avril became a Group executive director and Deputy Chief Executive on 18 September 2012 following the Group's acquisition of Autologic. Avril has extensive experience in delivery of strategy and shareholder value within the public company environment.
It is also intended to appoint a further non-executive director in due course.
Andrew Tinkler the Chief Executive Officer commented:
"Rodney has been an outstanding Chairman through a period of significant change and development for the Group. As a highly experienced public company Chairman he has served with great steadiness and distinction. He retires from the board with our gratitude and very best wishes. The board also thanks David Beever for his contribution to the board's deliberations.
"To meet the challenges and opportunities within our strategy the board now believes it is appropriate that Stobart is headed by an Executive Chairman. In the relatively short time that she has been with the Group, Avril has demonstrated to the board that she is the right person to carry out this demanding role. We look forward to supporting her leadership and I personally look forward to continuing to work with Avril to deliver the inherent value of our business"
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Enquiries:
Stobart Group +44 1925 605 400
Avril Palmer-Baunack, Executive Chairman
i-nfluence +44 207 287 9610
Stuart Dyble/James Andrew
Square1 Consulting +44 207 929 5599
David Bick/Mark Longson