Board Changes

RNS Number : 9852W

EMIS Group PLC

04 February 2013

 



Press Release                                                                                                  4 February 2013

EMIS Group plc

("EMIS Group" or "the Group")

Board Changes

EMIS Group plc (AIM: EMIS), the UK's leading supplier of clinical  software and related services to GP practices and other healthcare practitioners and a major software supplier to high street pharmacies, today announces an update regarding  its Board and management team succession planning. 

After twenty-three years with EMIS, Sean Riddell, Chief Executive, intends to retire from his full-time executive role to focus on his family commitments.

Accordingly Chris Spencer, currently EMIS's Chief Administrative Officer, is to join the board and to work alongside Sean as Joint Chief Executive with immediate effect, and, on March 21 will become Chief Executive on an interim basis, when Sean will formally step down from his executive role.

Sean will remain on the Board as a non executive director to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities and retention of his sector experience. 

The Board intends immediately to begin a recruitment process to select a permanent successor, with both external and internal candidates being considered.

Chris Spencer joined EMIS in 1999 and is currently EMIS's Chief Administrative Officer including roles as Group Counsel and Company Secretary. He has been a member of EMIS's senior management strategy forum since 1999. Immediately prior to joining EMIS, he was a General Manager and Head of IT for Markgraaf Patents Limited. A qualified solicitor, Chris was also, in 1985, a founder shareholder and director of Solicitec Limited, a software house which was acquired by Lexis Nexis in 2006. He is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents, a member of the Law Society of England & Wales, a member of the Society for Computers & Law and a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.

EMIS Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Andy McKeon as a new non-executive director with immediate effect. Andy has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the senior echelons of the Department of Health and the NHS and has broad knowledge of the Healthcare IT sector. He is a non-executive director of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). Andy's appointment ensures an appropriate balance of directors on the Board and adds relevant skills and expertise.

As previously stated, EMIS will announce its final results for the year ended 31 December 2012 on Thursday, 21 March 2013.

Mike O'Leary, Chairman of EMIS, said:

"Sean has made an immense contribution to EMIS's success over more than two decades, notably since flotation in April 2010 when Sean has been the public face of EMIS. Having led the Company for over twelve years, Sean wishes to devote more time to his family commitments and we have therefore agreed that it is an appropriate juncture for him to step down as CEO, whilst remaining active for a period in a non-executive role."

"Chris Spencer has been deeply involved in all aspects of EMIS's commercial, operational and strategic management for the last fourteen years and I am confident he will step up successfully into his new role."

"I am delighted to welcome Andy McKeon to the Board bringing his deep understanding of the NHS. He will be a valuable addition to the Board."  

Sean Riddell said:

"I am enormously proud of how EMIS has grown and evolved since I joined in 1989. After twenty-three years with the business I have decided that it is right for me to step back from my full time role and let others take the business to the next level. The future development of EMIS will be led by a talented executive management team which has been expanded and strengthened in recent years.

"Chris has long been a pivotal member of this leadership team, and a major contributor at both a strategic and operational level.  I have no doubt of EMIS's continued success under his stewardship."

Information required to be disclosed under AIM Rules:

Details of Chris Spencer's current and previous directorships in the past five years are set out below.

EMIS Professional Publishing Limited (until 14/03/2008)

Pathway Trust Limited (until 07/03/2008)

Details of Andy McKeon's current and previous directorships in the past five years are set out below.

Nuffield Trading Limited

The Nuffield Trust for Research and Policy Studies In Health Services

Chris Spencer and Andy McKeon are beneficially interested in 291,664 shares and Nil EMIS ordinary 1p shares respectively. 

For further information, contact:

EMIS Group plc                                                            Tel: [phone]

Mike O'Leary, Non-executive Chairman

Sean Riddell, Joint CEO

Chris Spencer, Joint CEO

Peter Southby, CFO

www.emis-online.com 

Numis Securities Limited                                             Tel: [phone]

Michael Meade/Simon Willis/James Black

MHP Communications                                           

Reg Hoare/James White/Giles Robinson                          Tel: [phone]

Notes to Editors

EMIS Group is the UK's leading supplier of software and related services to GP practices and a major supplier to high street pharmacies.

The Group's core activities include software development, software licensing and support, hardware support and maintenance services, hardware sales, third party software sales and training services.

Established in 1987, EMIS Group' shares were listed on AIM under the trading symbol EMIS.L following a successful fundraising in March 2010.

 

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