10 September 2019
National Express announces Non-Executive Director Changes
National Express Group PLC is pleased to announce the appointments of Ana de Pro Gonzalo and Karen Geary as Independent Non-Executive Directors, each of whom will join the Board on 1 October 2019. In addition, Ana de Pro Gonzalo will be a member of the Audit Committee, Karen Geary will be a member of the Remuneration Committee and both will become members of the Board's Safety & Environment Committee.
Ana de Pro Gonzalo is the Chief Financial Officer of Amadeus IT Group, S.A., the Spanish (IBEX 35) listed provider of IT solutions to the travel and tourism industry. Ana previously worked as the General Manager of Sacyr Vallehermoso, a leading Spanish construction group, and prior to that as the Chief Financial Officer at Metrovacesa S.A., a Spanish real estate business, having started her career with Arthur Anderson as an auditor.
Ana is currently also an independent director of Consejo Aesor Nacional Espanol, the Spanish National Advisory Board, where she also serves as a member of the Global Steering Group for Impact Assessment. Ana was previously an independent non-executive director of Merlin Properties SOCIMI, S.A., a real estate company listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange (IBEX-35).
Karen Geary is an experienced HR professional, who was most recently an independent non-executive director of, and chair of the Remuneration Committee at, Micro Focus International plc, the London listed (FTSE 100) software infrastructure business, before she became the Chief HR Officer, a role she held until 2018 to assist with the merger with Hewlett Packard Enterprise Software division.
Karen has spent the majority of her career in HR director roles at a number of international organisations, including at Stena Line, the Swedish transport and leisure operator, London listed (FTSE 100) software business The Sage Group PLC and San Francisco based Wandisco plc, having started her career at the UK subsidiary of US agrochemicals business, Monsanto.
National Express Group PLC also today announces that Joaquin Ayuso will step down as a Non-Executive Director with effect from 31 December 2019. Joaquin has served on the Company's Board and its Nominations and Safety & Environment Committees for almost nine years. Jane Kingston has also decided to step down as a Non-Executive Director with effect from 31 December 2019 due to her other commitments on other listed UK company boards. Jane served as the Chair of the Board's Remuneration Committee for over five years, which role was assumed by Ashley Steel earlier this year, and she has also been a member of the Board's Nominations and Safety & Environment Committees.
Sir John Armitt, Chairman of National Express Group PLC, said "I am delighted to welcome both Ana and Karen to the Board. Both are leaders in their respective fields and bring significant international business expertise and experience to the Board, including from the travel and technology sectors. I look forward to working with them both.
I would also like to express, on behalf of the Board, sincere thanks to Joaquin and Jane for their invaluable contribution to the Company over their respective tenures on the Board and its Committees. Both drew on their extensive international experience to assist the Company to deliver its strategy and consistent record of success. I would also like to thank Jane for her strong leadership while chairing the Remuneration Committee. We wish both Joaquin and Jane all the very best for the future."
There is no information required to be disclosed in respect of either Ms Gonzalo or Ms Geary pursuant to LR9.6.13(2) to (6) of the Listing Rules.
Enquiries
National Express Group PLC
Jennifer Myram, Company Secretary |
020 7805 3807 |
Louise Richardson, Head of Investor Relations |
07827 807766 |
Maitland/AMO |
020 7379 5151 |
James McFarlane |
07584 142 665 |
Notes
National Express Group PLC ("National Express" or the "Group") is a leading international passenger transport group, operating bus, coach and rail services in the UK, continental Europe, North Africa, North America and Bahrain.
Legal Entity Identifier: 213800A8IQEMY8PA5X34
Classification: 3.1