Directorate Change

RNS Number : 0353E

Card Factory PLC

15 October 2018

 

15 October 2018

Card Factory plc

("Card Factory" or the "Group")

Appointment of new Chairman following retirement of Geoff Cooper

Card Factory, the UK's leading specialist retailer of greeting cards, dressings and gifts, today announces that Geoff Cooper will be retiring as Chairman, and from the Board, following the next scheduled Board meeting on 18 October 2018.

Geoff advised the board in February 2018 that, for personal reasons related to his health, he was considering his role as Chairman of the Group and invited the board to seek a successor. Following this, an extensive search process was initiated, led by Card Factory's Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, Octavia Morley, which identified Paul Moody as an ideal potential successor. It has been agreed that Paul will be appointed to the Board as Chairman with effect from 19 October 2018.

Paul has extensive experience in leadership roles, particularly in the consumer sector. He spent almost 20 years at Britvic plc, one of the leading branded soft drinks businesses in Europe, including 8 years as CEO. In this role, he led its IPO in 2005 and a number of significant acquisitions. He developed a strong and enduring commercial franchise partnership with PepsiCo and established an international footprint for Britvic.

Paul is Chairman of 4imprint Group plc, the leading direct marketer of promotional products in the US, Canada and UK, and is Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee at Pets at Home Group plc, the leading pet care company in the UK. He was also previously Chairman of Johnson Service Group plc until stepping down in August 2018.

Paul has also been appointed as the Chair of the Nomination Committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee. In addition, Roger Whiteside has been appointed a member of the Nomination Committee. 

Karen Hubbard, Card Factory's CEO commented:

"Geoff has made a significant contribution to the Group, having overseen the significant development seen since IPO in 2014, and I would like to thank him on behalf of the whole business for his contribution, leadership and understand his wish to concentrate on fewer commitments."

Geoff Cooper commented:

"It has been a pleasure to chair the Card Factory business over the four years since IPO. We have achieved a lot with a great business, returning £295.4 million, representing c86.6 pence per share, to shareholders since our IPO in 2014. I am pleased to hand over to Paul as the Group continues to implement its growth strategy and I wish the business every success for the future."

Paul Moody added:

"I'm very excited to be joining Card Factory at this stage in its evolution. It is a company with an enviable market leading position, a unique business model and is presented with a number of opportunities to build further value under its current strategy and beyond."

There is no further information which would require disclosure under 9.6.13R of the Listing Rules of the UK Listing Authority.

ENDS

Enquiries

Card Factory plc                        [phone]

Shiv Sibal, Company Secretary

MHP Communications                [phone]

Simon Hockridge                       [e-mail]

Tim Rowntree

Giles Robinson

 

END

 

 

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