Board Changes

RNS Number : 9352A

Plant Health Care PLC

26 March 2013

 



26 March 2013

Plant Health Care plc

("Plant Health Care" or "the Company")

Board Changes 

Plant Health Care plc, ("PHC"),a leading provider of novel patent protected biological products to the global agriculture markets, is today announcing the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer, among other Board changes.

After twelve years as CEO of Plant Health Care, John Brady will be stepping down on 2 April 2013. He will be succeeded by Paul Schmidt who will take over as CEO the same day.

John has provided outstanding leadership of the Company and the Board would like to pay tribute to his enormous contribution. The Board is delighted that the Company is retaining John's services as a non-executive director, in which role the Company will continue to benefit from his invaluable experience.

The Company is pleased to welcome Paul Schmidt. Mr Schmidt has extensive operational experience in the agriculture industry, having served in senior roles in the USA, Germany and Canada during 25 years with Bayer CropScience and its predecessor companies. As President of Merck/EMD Crop Bioscience, a leading developer of natural plant health products, Paul led a turn-around which resulted in substantially increased sales and profit. In February 2011, he oversaw the sale of the business to Novozymes for $275 million. Paul graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a BSA in Agronomy in 1980.

Sam Wauchope, having served as a non-executive director for nine years, four of them as Senior Independent Director, will step down from the Board on 2 April 2013. The Board would like to thank Sam for the contribution he has made to the Company.

Michael Higgins will join the Company as the Senior Independent Director and Chair of the Audit Committee following the Company's AGM on 9 May 2013.  He is currently non-executive Chairman of AIM quoted Ebiquity plc and Deputy Chairman of the Quoted Companies Alliance. Michael also works with, and invests in, a number of early-stage businesses. Michael was a Senior Adviser at KPMG following ten years as a Partner. Prior to KPMG, he was a Director at Charterhouse Bank, worked at Saudi International Bank and qualified as an accountant with Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers).

Dr. Christopher Richards, Chairman commented: "I wish to place on record our appreciation of all that John has done for Plant Health Care; this Company is very much his personal creation. I am delighted that we are retaining John's services as a non-executive director, in which role we will continue to benefit from his invaluable experience. I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Sam for his contribution, which included a stint as Interim Chairman in 2012.

"Securing the services of Paul Schmidt as the Company's new CEO is a real coup. Paul's extensive experience in the industry leaves us very well positioned to progress to the next stage in the Company's development. I am convinced that Paul has the right qualities to lead Plant Health Care to this next level. We look forward to welcoming Michael to the Company and to the Board following our AGM.  Michael will bring a wealth of additional experience that we will benefit from."

-  ENDS -

About Plant Health Care plc: Plant Health Care plc ("Plant Health Care") is a leading provider of novel patent protected biological products to the global agriculture markets.  The Company's ordinary shares have been quoted on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange since July 2004 and listed on the Official List of the Channel Islands Stock Exchange ("CISX") since February 2010 (ticker symbol/mnemonic: PHC).

Further information is available at: www.planthealthcare.com.

 For further information, please contact:

Plant Health Care plc
Dr Christopher Richards, Chairman	On the day Tel: [phone]
John Brady, Chief Executive Officer	On the day Tel: [phone]
	Thereafter: Tel: [phone]
Stephen Weaver, Finance Director	Tel: [phone] x151
Nomura Code Securities
Chris Collins / Clare Terlouw / Chris Golden	Tel: [phone]
Powerscourt
Paul Durman / Nick Dibden / Sophie Moate	Tel: [phone]

 

END

 

 

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