18 Oct 2016 07:00
18 October 2016
Utilitywise plc
("Utilitywise" or "the Group")
Board Changes
Utilitywise plc (AIM:UTW), a leading independent utility cost management consultancy, today announces that Jon Kempster, Chief Financial Officer, has decided to step down from the Board and leave the Group to pursue other career opportunities. Jon has made a significant contribution to the strengthening of the day-to-day finance function of Utilitywise, creating a strong team to support the Group's growth, and the Board wishes him well in the future.
The Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Laker as Chief Financial Officer and a Director of the Company. Richard joins Utilitywise from Augean plc where, in his role as Group Finance Director, he helped oversee the implementation of a new strategy, delivering double-digit annual growth in profit, operating cash flow and ROCE. Richard was previously at Northgate plc, where he held a number of senior finance roles between 2004 and 2014 including Group Financial Controller and, most recently, UK Finance Director. Prior to joining Northgate plc, Richard was at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2001. Richard's start date will be confirmed in a further announcement, until such time Jon will remain with the Group to ensure an orderly succession.
Simon Waugh has also been appointed to the Board, as Non-Executive Director and the Senior Independent Director, with effect from 1 November 2016. Simon has extensive experience in senior leadership roles, including seven years between 1997 and 2004 on the executive committee at Centrica plc as Sales & Marketing Director, helping transform British Gas into an international business with a market capitalisation of more than £10 billion. He was also Chief Executive Officer, Centrica Financial Services, in the early part of his tenure, before later becoming Deputy Managing Director, British Gas.
Jon Kempster is also standing down as Company Secretary with effect from 1 November 2016. Julianne McCorry, currently Assistant Company Secretary, has been appointed Company Secretary with effect from that date. Julianne is a Chartered Secretary (FCIS) and has had an extensive career in both the UK and France, holding a number of senior posts including Assistant Company Secretary of Unilever plc.
Geoff Thompson, Executive Chairman of Utilitywise, commented:
"On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Jon for his significant contribution to the Group and I wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career.
"At the same time, I look forward to welcoming to the Board Richard Laker as our new CFO and Simon Waugh as Non-Executive Director and SID. Richard has an exceptional track record, having supported the development of two fast-growing plcs, and I have no doubt he will continue in a similar vein at Utilitywise. Simon's CV speaks for itself and it is testament to how far the Group has come since listing that we're able to attract someone of his calibre.
"With Richard and Simon joining, and further to the recent appointment of Brendan Flattery as our new CEO on the 1st of October, I am confident that we have the right management team in place to lead the Group through this next exciting stage in its development."
Brendan Flattery, CEO of Utilitywise, said:
"Utilitywise is a fast-growing and ambitious company and Richard and Simon each possess the right mix of skills and experience to help it thrive. I look forward to working closely with them both as we continue to develop our market leading procurement and energy services businesses."
The following information is disclosed pursuant to Schedule Two paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies:
Mr Richard Stephen Laker (Age 40)
Current Directorships / Partnerships:
Augean plc
Augean Integrated Services Limited
Augean North Limited
Augean North Sea Services Limited
Augean South Limited
Augean Treatment Limited
Colt Holdings Limited
Colt Industrial Services Limited
Hitech Equipment Limited
RNA Investments Limited
Tueart Limited
Previous Directorships / Partnerships (held in the past five years):
A1 Self Drive (Warrington) Limited
Acorn Self Drive Limited
Adrian Truck Hire Limited
Anchor Vehicle Hire Limited
Autorentals (Cleveland) Limited
Beeston Van Hire Limited
Bellamour Car, Van & Truck Rental Limited
Betsafe Limited
British Overseas Stores Limited
Caledonian Self Drive Limited
Cartrux Vehicle Hire Limited
Cymru Vehicle Hire Limited
Daman Vehicle Rental Limited
Don Valley Self Drive Limited
Fleet Technique Limited
Foley Self Drive Limited
Goode Durrant & Murray Limited
Goode Durrant Administration Limited
GPS Body Repairs Limited
GWR Vehicle Hire Limited
Hampsons (Self Drive Hire) Limited
Imperial Self Drive Limited
John Nixon Vehicle Hire Limited
Lancashire Vehicle Rental Limited
Lathom Van Hire Limited
Lothian Self Drive Limited
LVR Rental Limited
Maincrest Vehicle Hire Limited
Mercia Vehicle Hire Limited
Mobility Car & Van Hire Limited
NLS Legal & Insolvency
Noble Vehicle Hire Limited
Norfleet Limited
Northgate (AVR) Dealership Rentals Limited
Northgate (AVR) Limited
Northgate Central Reservations Limited
Northgate Vehicle Hire (East Anglia) Limited
Northgate Vehicle Hire (East Midlands) Limited
Northgate Vehicle Hire (Home Counties) Limited
Northgate Vehicle Hire (Ireland) Limited
Northgate Vehicle Hire (NI) Limited
Northgate Vehicle Hire (North East) Limited
Northgate Vehicle Hire (North West) Limited
Northgate Vehicle Hire (Scot & Ni) Limited
Northgate Vehicle Hire (South East) Limited
Northgate Vehicle Hire (South) Limited
Northgate Vehicle Hire (Sw & W) Limited
Northgate Vehicle Hire (West Midlands) Limited
Northgate Vehicle Hire Limited
Northgate Vehicle Solutions Limited
NTR Vehicle Rental Limited
Orbital Self Drive Limited
Orchard Self Drive Limited
Provident Enterprises Limited
Sigma Self Drive Limited
Signal Vehicle Hire Limited
Solent Self Drive Limited
Strathclyde Self Drive Limited
Target Vehicle Hire Limited
Transline Vehicle Hire Limited
Trident Vehicle Hire Limited
Trukvan Rental Limited
UK Vehicle Rental Limited
Vickers (Northern) Limited
Vocas Limited
Weaverton Limited
Willdrive Limited
Willhire Services Limited
Mr. Laker does not currently hold any ordinary shares in the Company.
Mr Simon John Waugh (Age 58)
Current Directorships / Partnerships:
CMC Markets PLC
The Consulting Consortium Limited
Record Sure Limited
Gallagher Benefit Services (holdings) Limited
Gallagher Risk & Reward Limited
BMLL Technologies Limited
Age UK Trading CIC
Age UK Enterprises Limited
Age UK
Aid-Call Limited
Ingenuity Holdings Limited
Swaines Limited
Previous Directorships / Partnerships (held in the past five years):
Information Internet Limited
Sparks Charity
The Skills Show Ltd.
Partnership Home Loans Limited
Partnership Life Assurance Company Limited
Partnership Assurance Group Plc
Mydrive Solutions Limited
Mr. Waugh does not currently hold any ordinary shares in the Company.
There are no other disclosures required in relation to Rule 17 or paragraph (g) of Schedule 2 of the AIM Rules for Companies.
For further information, please contact:
Utilitywise plc | 0330 303 0233 |
Geoff Thompson (Executive Chairman) Brendan Flattery (Chief Executive Officer) | |
Jon Kempster (Chief Financial Officer) | |
finnCap (NOMAD and broker) | 020 7220 0500 |
Matt Goode/Grant Bergman (Corporate Finance) | |
Simon Johnson (Corporate Broking)
Liberum (Joint broker) |
020 3100 2000 |
Robert Morton/ Steve Pearce |
|
Redleaf Communications | 020 7382 4730 |
Rebecca Sanders-Hewett/David Ison/Susie Hudson |
About Utilitywise
Utilitywise is a leading independent utility cost management and services consultancy based in Newcastle. The Group has established trading relationships with a number of major UK and European energy suppliers and provides services to its customers designed to assist them in achieving better value out of their energy contracts, reduced energy consumption and lower carbon footprint.