Directorate Change

RNS Number : 0562J

Plant Health Care PLC

01 August 2012

 



1 August 2012

Plant Health Care plc

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

Appointment of Chairman

Industry leader Dr Christopher Richards is Plant Health Care's new Chairman

Plant Health Care plc, a leading provider of naturally-derived products to the global agriculture markets, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Christopher Richards as an independent director and non-executive Chairman of the Company, with immediate effect.

Dr Richards has had a distinguished career in the global agrochemical industry and is the non-executive Chairman of Arysta LifeScience Corporation ("Arysta LifeScience"), one of the world's largest privately-held agrochemical companies. Dr Richards joined Arysta LifeScience as Chief Operating Officer in 2003 and was Chief Executive Officer from 2004 to 2010. Under his leadership, Arysta LifeScience became one of the fastest-growing companies in the agrochemical industry. Arysta LifeScience was acquired by Permira Funds in 2008.

Dr Richards, aged 58, previously worked in international management roles at Syngenta Crop Protection and at its predecessor companies Zeneca and ICI. He began his career at the UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, having taken a doctorate from St John's College, Oxford.

His other directorships include Dechra Pharmaceuticals plc, the international veterinary pharmaceuticals group listed in London. He is also non-executive chairman of Oxitec Ltd, the biotech company that is tackling dengue fever and agricultural pests, and a non-executive director of Cibus Global Inc, the seed technology company.

Following the appointment of Dr Richards, Sam Wauchope steps down as Interim Chairman and returns to his previous role as Senior Independent Director.

Dr Richards said: "I am pleased to be joining Plant Health Care at an inflexion point in the Company's development. Plant Health Care has demonstrated that its technology can significantly improve the yields of many important crops, a benefit that is of considerable commercial potential. I look forward to helping John Brady and his management team realise Plant Health Care's promise."

John Brady, CEO of Plant Health Care, said: "We are delighted that Chris has joined us.  He brings with him a wealth of experience and I look forward to working with him closely as we enter a very exciting period for the Company."

Save for the information disclosed above there is no other information to be disclosed under Rule 17 or Schedule Two, paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies in relation to Dr Christopher Gareth Joseph Richards' appointment as a director of the Company other than as follows:

Current Directorships	Past Directorships
Arysta LifeScience Corporation	Arysta LifeScience U.K Limited
Talestris Ltd	Arysta LifeScience North America, LLC (formerly Arysta LifeScience North America Corporation, and formerly known as Arvesta Corporation)
Talestris Latinoamerica Inc	Arvesta Corporation
Talestris Industrial Inc	ANESA S.A
Talestris Colombia SAS	Callietha Investments (Pty) Ltd
Fundicom SA	Volcano Agroscience (Pty) Ltd
Bio Products Laboratory Ltd	Arysta LifeScience Holdings SA (Pty) Ltd  (formerly known as Arysta LifeScience South Africa (Pty) Ltd)
Richards Underwriting Limited	Arysta LifeScience Global Holding Pte. Ltd. (liquidated 2008)
Dechra plc
Cibus Global Inc.
Oxitec Ltd
Ashridge Court Partnership

-  ENDS -

About Plant Health Care plc:Plant Health Care plc ("Plant Health Care") is a leading provider of naturally-derived products for plants and soil. Established in 1995 in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) in the United States, Plant Health Care currently has approximately 40 employees and has operations in the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. The Company's ordinary shares have been quoted on the Alternative Investment Market ("AIM") 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).

Plant Health Care's products are aimed at the agriculture industry and are environmentally beneficial. Through the commercialisation of these products, Plant Health Care is capitalising on current long-term trends toward natural systems and biological products for plant care and soil and water management. Further information is available at: www.planthealthcare.com.

 For further information, please contact:

Plant Health Care plc
John Brady, Chief Executive Officer	Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]
Stephen Weaver, Finance Director	Tel: [phone] x151
[e-mail]
Nomura Code Securities	Tel: [phone]
Clare Terlouw / Chris Golden
www.nomuracode.com
Powerscourt	Tel: [phone]
Paul Durman / Nick Dibden
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

 

END

 

 

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