Directorate Change

RNS Number : 8895A

Burberry Group PLC

10 June 2016

 

Burberry Group plc

Board Change: John Smith, Chief Operating Officer,

to step down from the Board

Burberry today announces that its Chief Operating Officer John Smith has decided to leave Burberry in order to pursue new interests.  John will leave the company and step down from the Board by summer 2017 after 7 years.

Burberry Chairman Sir John Peace, commented "We  would like to thank John for his contribution to Burberry over the last seven years, first as a non-executive director and latterly as Chief Operating Officer, and in particular, for his success in driving digital growth and optimising the potential of our beauty and travel  businesses.  John has been an important contributor to the company's success and we wish him well in the future"

Burberry Chief Creative and Chief Executive Officer Christopher Bailey said "John has made a significant contribution to Burberry over the last seven years. I have personally valued and enjoyed John's partnership and I would like to thank John for everything he has brought to Burberry. Whilst John will remain with us for a while longer, we all wish him much happiness and great success for the future."

John Smith said "By 2017 I will have been involved with Burberry for more than seven years. I have intensely enjoyed working for one of the world's great luxury brands and I am proud of my contribution to the company's success over this period, particularly helping the company to be at the vanguard of digital and contributing to the growth of the beauty business. I am pleased to leave the company operationally stronger too.

With the company's future strategies now in place, I am ready to embark on a new challenge. Having been the CEO of a fast growing international business in the past, I am exploring a number of exciting new leadership opportunities in that arena.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Sir John Peace, Christopher Bailey and other colleagues for a fantastic chapter in my life.  I wish the company well as it goes about executing on its strategies."

 

Enquiries

Investors and analysts
Carol Fairweather	Chief Financial Officer	020 3367 3524
Fay Dodds	VP, Investor Relations

 

Media
Julian Payne	VP, PR & Corporate Relations	020 3428 8795
Nick Claydon	Brunswick	020 7404 5959
Katharine Spence	Brunswick

Certain statements made in this announcement are forward-looking statements.  Such statements are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any expected future results in forward-looking statements.  Burberry Group plc undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements and will not publicly release any revisions it may make to these forward-looking statements that may result from events or circumstances arising after the date of this document.  Nothing in this announcement should be construed as a profit forecast.  All persons, wherever located, should consult any additional disclosures that Burberry Group plc may make in any regulatory announcements or documents which it publishes.  All persons, wherever located, should take note of these disclosures.  This announcement does not constitute an invitation to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any Burberry Group plc shares, in the UK, or in the US, or under the US Securities Act 1933 or in any other jurisdiction.

Notes to editors

·    John Smith has been Chief Operating Officer since 4 March 2013 and was previously a non-executive director from 1 December 2009.

·    From 2004 to 2012, John was Chief executive of BBC Worldwide, the commercial subsidiary of the BBC.  He joined the BBC in 1989, and held the positions of Chief Operating Officer, Director of Finance, Property & Business affairs and Finance Director.

·    Burberry is a global luxury brand with a distinctive British heritage, built around its core iconic outerwear.  

·    Burberry designs and sources apparel, accessories and beauty, selling through a diversified network of retail (including digital), wholesale and licensing channels worldwide.

·    At 31 March 2016, Burberry globally had 215 retail stores, 214 concessions, 58 outlets and 62 franchise stores.  

·    Burberry, which is headquartered in London, was founded in 1856.  It is listed on the London Stock Exchange (BRBY.L) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index.  ADR symbol OTC:BURBY.

·    BURBERRY, the Equestrian Knight Device and the Burberry Check are trademarks belonging to Burberry which are registered and enforced worldwide.

 

END

 

 

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