Appointment of Independent NED and Chair Designate

NewRiver REIT PLC

21 March 2024

 

NewRiver REIT plc

("NewRiver" or the "Company" or the "Group")

Appointment of Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair Designate

NewRiver is pleased to announce the appointment of Lynn Fordham as Independent Non-Executive Director, Chair Designate and a member of the Nomination Committee with effect from 21 March 2024. Lynn will succeed Baroness Ford OBE as Non-Executive Chair of the Board and the Nomination Committee when Baroness Ford steps down from the Board on 30 May 2024.

As previously announced, Baroness Ford advised the Board that, subject to completion of a search to appoint her successor and a handover period, she would not seek re-election at this year's AGM. The Nomination Committee initiated a search for a new Non-Executive Chair under the leadership of Alastair Miller, Senior Independent Director.

Lynn Fordham is a highly experienced Non-Executive Director with wide-ranging experience across a range of industries and has extensive board level experience gained as an Executive Director and Non-Executive Director of listed companies.

Lynn is currently Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chair of NCC Group plc, Caledonia Investments plc, Domino's Pizza Group plc and Non-Executive Director of Enfinium Group Ltd. Lynn was previously Non-Executive Director of VARO Energy and Fuller, Smith & Turner.

Lynn's most recent executive career was as Managing Partner of Larchpoint Capital LLP, a team of private equity professionals investing family capital. Prior to that Lynn was Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of SVG Capital plc, the former FTSE 250 listed private equity investment vehicle. Lynn has also held senior finance roles at Barratt Developments Plc, BAA Plc and Boots Plc.

In her early career, Lynn trained as a Chartered Accountant with Peat Marwick and held various Audit, Risk, Strategy and Finance roles with British American Tobacco, ED& F Man Group, Chubb, Boots and BAA.

Alastair Miller, Senior Independent Director commented: "Following the completion of a thorough process supported by an international executive search consultancy, we are very pleased to have secured a Chair of Lynn's calibre. Lynn is a seasoned Plc director with significant capital markets and finance experience. I'm confident that Lynn will bring strong strategic leadership and on behalf of the Board I am delighted to welcome Lynn to NewRiver.

I would also like to thank Baroness Ford for her leadership of the Board over the last 6 years. She has made a major contribution to the strategic development of NewRiver and we extend our very best wishes to Margaret for the future."

Lynn Fordham, Chair Designate commented: "I am delighted to be joining the Board of NewRiver at this stage in its development and look forward to working with the Board and Allan Lockhart, CEO.

I was attracted to the role of Chair because of the quality of NewRiver's portfolio and operating platform, the strength of its balance sheet and the prospect of increasing shareholder value over the coming years."

Baroness Ford OBE, Outgoing Chair commented: "It has been a privilege for me to serve as Chair of the NewRiver Board and I am particularly proud of the successful execution of the strategic plan.

I congratulate Lynn on her appointment as my successor. I am confident that under her leadership of the Board and with Allan Lockhart as CEO, NewRiver will continue to prosper and deliver value for shareholders."

Lynn does not currently hold any shares in the Company. With respect to paragraph 9.6.13 of the Financial Conduct Authority's Listing Rules, the below details all directorships held by the director in any other publicly quoted company at any time in the previous five years:

Current Listed Directorships:

NCC Group plc

Caledonia Investments plc

Domino's Pizza Group Plc

Lynn Fordham was a director of Sole Realisation Company plc, formerly known as SVG Capital plc ("Sole Realisation") until 28 June 2017 when Sole Realisation was put into a solvent members voluntary liquidation. No further information is required to be disclosed pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.13 R in respect of the appointment listed above.

This announcement includes the information required by Listing Rules 9.6.11 to 9.6.13, and there is no further information to report under Listing Rule 9.6.13.

For further information

NewRiver REIT plc			[phone]
Allan Lockhart (Chief Executive) Will Hobman (Chief Financial Officer)

FGS Global			[phone]
Gordon Simpson James Thompson

About NewRiver

NewRiver REIT plc ('NewRiver') is a leading Real Estate Investment Trust specialising in buying, managing and developing resilient retail assets throughout the UK.

Our £0.6 billion UK wide portfolio covers 6.4 million sq ft and comprises 25 community shopping centres and 12 conveniently located retail parks occupied by tenants predominately focused on essential goods and services. In addition we manage 18 retail parks and 5 shopping centres on behalf of Capital Partners, taking our total Assets Under Management to £1.3 billion. Our objective is to own and manage the most resilient retail portfolio in the UK, focused on retail parks, core shopping centres, and regeneration opportunities in order to deliver long-term attractive recurring income returns and capital growth for our shareholders.

NewRiver has a Premium Listing on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange (ticker: NRR). Visit www.nrr.co.uk for further information.

LEI Number: 2138004GX1VAUMH66L31

 

END