Stvg Regulatory News (STVG)

13 January 2021

Board appointments

Appointment of Paul Reynolds as Chair Elect and Aki Mandhar as Non-Executive Director

STV Group plc is delighted to announce two new non-executive appointments to the Board, effective from 1st February 2021. Paul Reynolds is appointed as Non-Executive Director and Chair Elect and will succeed Baroness Margaret Ford as Chair when she steps down from the Board as planned at the April 2021 AGM. Aki Mandhar is also appointed as Non-Executive Director.

Paul Reynolds, a Scot, has extensive executive and board level experience acquired through a successful career in the TMT sector at public companies in the UK and overseas, including tenures as Chief Executive of BT Wholesale and Executive Director of BT Group plc, and Chief Executive of Telecom New Zealand.

Paul currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the boards of two large public companies: TalkTalk Telecom Group plc and Computershare Limited. He joined the Board of TalkTalk in 2020 having previously served as Chairman of TalkTalk subsidiary, FibreNation Limited, from 2018 until its sale in 2020. Paul joined the Board of Computershare Limited in 2018. Paul is also Chair of Australian small-cap data analytics company, 9Spokes, a position he has held since 2014.

Previous non-executive appointments include serving as Non-Executive Director of Ireland's largest telecoms company, Eircom Ireland Limited; Non-Executive Director of XConnect Global Networks Ltd; and Non-Executive Director of Japan-based broadband and mobile communication services provider, eAccess Ltd.

During a 24-year career with BT Group plc from 1983 until 2007, Paul led a series of business-critical projects, including key roles in the introduction of broadband in the UK and the creation of Openreach. He latterly held the roles of Executive Director and CEO of BT Wholesale from 2001 until his departure.

In 2007 he took up an overseas position as Chief Executive of Telecom New Zealand. During the next five years he led a successful corporate transformation programme in response to profound regulatory and structural changes to the New Zealand telecoms industry, including the listing of the company's network arm, Chorus.

Paul grew up in Glasgow, graduated from the Universities of Strathclyde and London, and now splits his time between Buckinghamshire and Perthshire.

Aki Mandhar has built a successful executive career across the advertising, marketing and digital media sectors and is currently UK General Manager of subscription-based sports news website, The Athletic. Prior to joining The Athletic in early 2020, Aki was Chief Operating Officer of Telegraph Media Group, responsible for delivery of the strategy to transform the business from a traditional publisher model into a successful, sustainable subscription-based business.

Aki was Managing Director of media agency OmniCom Group in the UK from 2015 until 2017, and prior to this she held executive roles within WPP-owned MediaCom in the UK over a period of nine years. Aki's early career was established with employment website Monster.com from 1999 until 2006 where she rose to become General Manager.

Baroness Ford, Chair of STV, said:

"I am delighted to start 2021 with the news of two appointments to the STV Group plc board. Paul brings a wealth of experience and I look forward to working with him as my successor to ensure an orderly handover before I step down as planned at the AGM in April."

"Aki's stellar career has seen her lead digital transformation in advertising, media and journalism and she is a fantastic addition to the board. Both appointments complement the existing mix of skills and experience on our Board and ensure we are very well placed as STV enters the next phase of its growth."

Simon Miller, Senior Independent Director who oversaw the recruitment process for the new Chair, said:

"Paul brings very significant public company experience, in both a non-executive and executive capacity, and his relevant TMT expertise, drive and personality made him the standout choice from a very strong field as the next Chair of STV."

Paul Reynolds said:

"I am delighted to have this opportunity to lead the Board of STV at a pivotal time, as the company implements its successful strategy for a world of multiple-choice in content production and delivery. There has also never been a more important time for Scotland to have a strong commercial public service broadcaster."

Aki Mandhar said:

"I'm so excited to be joining the board of STV as they continue to transform their business both creatively and commercially."

Simon Pitts, Chief Executive of STV, said:

"I'm very much looking forward to working with Paul, Aki and the rest of our Board to deliver continued success at STV."

There is no information required to be disclosed in accordance with Listing Rule 9.6.13. 

ENDS

Enquiries:

STV Group plc:

Kirstin Stevenson, Head of Communications, Tel: 07803 970106

Camarco:

Geoffrey Pelham-Lane, Partner, Tel: 07733 124 226

Ben Woodford, Partner, Tel: 07790 653 341