- Appointment of independent non-executive director
The Rank Group Plc ("Rank") announces the appointment of the Rt. Hon. Sir Richard Needham (Earl of Kilmorey) to the board of Rank as an independent non-executive director with effect from 1 May 2012.
Sir Richard, age 70, had a distinguished career in parliament culminating in his time as Britain's longest serving Minister in Northern Ireland from 1985 - 1992 and as Minister of Trade from 1992 - 1995. Sir Richard left politics in 1997 and has since focused on the private sector, and has been a director of a number of public and private companies including Biocompatibles International plc, The Heart Hospital Limited and Dyson Limited, where he was a director for over 16 years.
He is currently a non-executive director of Avon Rubber p.l.c. (having served as chairman for five years), a non-executive director of Lonrho Plc and non-executive chairman of VANE Minerals plc. He is also chairman of Tetra Strategy Limited (a political consultancy), a director of Smarta Enterprises Limited (the UK's largest online resource for small businesses) and a non-executive director of NEC Europe Ltd (a leading internet services and systems solutions provider).
Ian Burke, Rank's chairman and chief executive, said: "We are delighted to welcome Sir Richard to the board of Rank. We believe that Sir Richard's diverse experience in commerce and industry, and in Government, will be of significant benefit to the future development of Rank."
Rank confirms that there is no other information to be disclosed under the requirements of Listing Rule 9.6.13 in relation to this appointment.
30 March 2012
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