For immediate release 8 April 2022
RWS Holdings plc
Board changes
RWS Holdings plc ("RWS" or "the Group"), a unique world-leading provider of technology-enabled language, content and intellectual property services, announces the appointment of Rod Day as interim Chief Financial Officer. Rod will also join the RWS Board on an interim basis with effect from today.
On 29 December 2021, RWS announced that Des Glass, the current Chief Financial Officer, had resigned in order to take up a position as a CFO of a privately held business in a different industry. Today he is stepping down from his role as Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary, and from the Board.
Rod Day has more than thirty years of senior finance and strategy experience primarily in the business services, online and retail sectors, including serving as Group CFO of Iron Mountain Inc. and AOL Europe and Group Strategy Manager at Kingfisher Plc. His career has been built on formulating strategies, driving results through strong performance management, leading multiple acquisitions in developed and emerging markets and building strong finance teams across divisions and geographic regions. For the last five years he has worked as an interim finance director which has included being interim CFO at Cobham and V.Group. He was appointed to work full time on an interim basis at RWS in early January and since that time has been working closely with Des Glass to ensure an orderly handover of responsibilities.
Rod Day holds no shares in RWS.
As anticipated in December 2021, the Board is in the process of appointing a full-time Chief Financial Officer with the assistance of an external search consultant. That process continues and a further announcement will be made in due course. Rod Day has agreed to continue as Chief Financial Officer of RWS until an appointment is made and for a suitable period thereafter to ensure an orderly transition.
RWS also announces that Christopher Lewey has been appointed as acting Company Secretary with effect from today. The Group is in the process of seeking an appointment of a permanent Company Secretary and will make a further announcement in this regard in due course.
Ian El-Mokadem, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
"I am delighted that we have appointed someone of Rod's calibre and experience to act as Chief Financial Officer on an interim basis. He has been working closely with Des since early January this year to facilitate a smooth and thorough transfer of responsibilities."
"I would also like to thank Des for his strong contribution to the business over more than four years and wish him well in his new role."
Rod Day, Chief Financial Officer designate, commented:
"I am delighted to join the Board of RWS at such an exciting time for the business. The Group has set out a clear strategic plan for the future and I look forward to continuing to work with RWS's talented leadership team to deliver on that plan and drive sustainable growth."
Other than the previous directorships listed below, there is no further information required to be disclosed pursuant to paragraph (g) of Schedule Two of the AIM Rules for Companies, in relation to Rod Day's appointment to the board.
Rod Day (aged 57) holds or has held directorships in the five years preceding his appointment at the Company as follows:
Current:
Silver Sky Limited
Last 5 years:
None
For further information, please contact:
RWS Holdings plc Andrew Brode, Chairman Ian El-Mokadem, Chief Executive Officer Rod Day, Chief Financial Officer |
01753 480200 |
MHP (Financial PR advisor) Katie Hunt / Simon Hockridge |
rws@mhpc.com 020 3128 8100 |
Numis (Nomad & Joint Broker) Stuart Skinner / Kevin Cruickshank / Will Baunton
|
020 7260 1000
|
Berenberg (Joint Broker) Ben Wright / Toby Flaux / Alix Mecklenburg-Solodkoff |
020 3207 7800
|
About RWS:
RWS Holdings plc is a unique, world-leading provider of technology-enabled language, content and intellectual property services. Through content transformation and multilingual data analysis, our unique combination of technology and cultural expertise helps our clients to grow by ensuring they are understood anywhere, in any language.
Our purpose is unlocking global understanding. By combining cultural understanding, client understanding and technical understanding, our services and technology assist our clients to acquire and retain customers, deliver engaging user experiences, maintain compliance and gain actionable insights into their data and content.
Our clients include 90 of the world's top 100 brands, the top 20 pharmaceutical companies and 19 of the top 20 patent filers. Our client base spans Europe, Asia Pacific and North and South America. We work in the automotive, chemical, financial, legal, medical, pharmaceutical, technology and telecommunications sectors, which we serve from 80+ global locations across five continents.
Founded in 1958, RWS is headquartered in the UK and publicly listed on AIM, the London Stock Exchange regulated market (RWS.L).
For further information, please visit: www.rws.com.