Board Changes

RNS Number : 2471S

RWS Holdings PLC

29 November 2012

 



RWS GROUP

For immediate release                                                                                           29 November 2012

RWS Holdings plc

Board Changes

Richard Thompson to be appointed as Group Finance Director

RWS Holding plc (RWS), Europe's leading provider of intellectual property support services (patent translations and technical searches) and technical translations, is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Thompson as Board Director with immediate effect.

Richard was Chief Financial Officer of Actix International Ltd, the global mobile telephone software group, from September 2006 until October 2012.  Prior to that he was Finance Director of Torex Retail Plc, an AIM listed company providing software for the retail sector from July 2004 to November 2005.  Earlier in his career Richard worked in various financial roles for Courtaulds Textiles Plc including overseas secondments to the USA and China.

Mike McCarthy, who joined RWS as Group Finance Director in 2000, has decided to retire and will step down from the Board with effect from 31^st December 2012.  At that time Richard will take over the responsibilities of Group Finance Director, following a handover period.

Andrew Brode, Executive Chairman said:

"We are delighted to welcome someone of Richard's calibre and experience to the Board following our succession planning process.  He has both extensive relevant expertise in the geographic areas in which RWS operates and a broad knowledge of working within a public company.  As such, Richard is ideally equipped to help lead RWS in the execution of our announced strategy of strong organic growth complemented by selective acquisitions.

"On behalf of the Board and in a personal capacity, I would like to extend sincere thanks to Mike for his invaluable contribution to RWS.  He has played a very important role in helping grow the company over the past 12 years and as a result we have a very sound business platform from which to deliver further growth."

Richard Thompson said:

"RWS is a world leading provider of patent translations, with excellent opportunities for further growth.  I am very excited to be joining at this point in the company's development."

Save as set out in this announcement and the appendix below, there are no further disclosures required under Rule 17 Schedule 2 (g) of the AIM Rules.

Appendix:

Richard Thompson is currently a director of the following companies:

R.J. Thompson Financial Consultants Limited

Actix China Ltd

In the past five years, Richard Thompson has been a director of the following companies:

Actix Pte Ltd

Actix India Private Limite

Actix Sdn Bhd

Actix Pty Ltd

For further information contact:

RWS Holdings plc

Andrew Brode, Executive Chairman                                                                               01753 480200

MHP

Katie Hunt / Simon Hockridge                                                                                      020 3128 8794

Numis

Stuart Skinner (Nominated Adviser)                                                                              020 7260 1000

James Serjeant (Corporate Broker)

About RWS:

RWS is the world's leading provider of patent translations and one of Europe's leading players in the provision of intellectual property support services and high level technical, commercial, legal and financial translation services.  Specialist divisions provide for the diverse needs of a blue-chip multinational client base from Europe, North America and Asia in the aerospace, automotive, chemical, defence, electronics, financial, insurance, legal, medical, pharmaceutical and telecommunications industries.  RWS is based in the UK, with offices in Europe, New York, Tokyo and Beijing, and is listed on AIM, the London Stock Exchange regulated market (RWS.L).

Approximately 2,000,000 patent applications are filed per annum.  The 240,000 applications filed in Europe (source: European Patent Office), represent a doubling in the last ten years.  Applications from Asia have also seen significant recent growth.

For further information please visit: www.rws.com

 

END

 

 

MSCEASFPADPAFFF