Directorate Change

RNS Number : 8348H

Smith & Nephew Plc

01 March 2010

 



Non-Executive Board Changes at Smith & Nephew plc

1 March 2010

Smith & Nephew plc (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN), the global medical technology business, announced today the retirement of Mr Warren Knowlton and the appointment of Professor Geneviève Berger and Mr Ian Barlow as Non-Executive Directors.

Warren Knowlton will be retiring from the Board at the Annual General Meeting on 6 May 2010 after 9 years of service.  During his tenure Warren has been Chairman of the Audit Committee since 2001.  The Board has benefited from his sound advice and wise counsel and thank him for his highly valued contribution throughout his time on the board.

Professor Geneviève Berger is a medical doctor with doctorates in both Human Biology and Theoretical and Applied Mechanical Physics from the University of Paris.  Professor Berger is currently Unilever Executive, Chief Research & Development Officer at Unilever PLC and NV, having previously served as a Non-Executive Director.  She was Chairman of the Health Advisory Board for the European Commission from 2006 to 2008.  Prior to that Genevieve Berger was a Professor at the University of Paris and Le Pitié-Sapêtrière Teaching Hospital.  She had a distinguished career and was the Director General of the French Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique.  She will bring valuable commercial and scientific experience to the Board following her appointment on 5 March 2010.

Ian Barlow was the Senior Partner, London office of KPMG in the UK until 2008.  Since his retirement he has been a Senior Advisor to KPMG on a part time basis advising their clients in the oil industry.  Ian is a Non Executive Director and Chairman of the audit committees of PA Consulting Group and The Brunner Investment Trust.  Ian is Chairman of Think London, the inward investment agency and a Non Executive Director of Candy & Candy.  He will be joining the Board and the Audit Committee on 5 March 2010 as the designated financial expert with recent and relevant financial experience and will be appointed Chairman of the Audit Committee at the Annual General Meeting on 6 May 2010, replacing Warren Knowlton.

John Buchanan, Chairman of Smith & Nephew plc, commenting on these changes said, "Over the last nine years the Board has benefited greatly from Warren Knowlton's contributions and counsel.  His Chairmanship of the Audit Committee has been particularly valued.

I am delighted to welcome both Geneviève and Ian to the Board.  They bring us excellent commercial, scientific and financial skills.  The Board looks forward to working with them and they will both be at the Annual General Meeting where they will be proposed for re-election."

Note: Mr Barlow was a Chairman of Lakeland Knitwear Limited, a family company which was voluntarily liquidated in 1995 with all creditors repaid in full.  Other than this, and the details of other directorships disclosed above, neither director has any further disclosures under paragraph 9.6.13 (1) to 9.6.13 (6) of the Listing Rules.

Enquiries

Investors

Phil Cowdy                                                Tel:   [phone]

Smith & Nephew

Director Investor Relations

Media

Liz Hewitt                                                  Tel:   [phone]

Smith & Nephew

Group Director, Corporate Affairs

Jon Coles                                                  Tel:   [phone]

Brunswick - London

About Us

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business, specialising in Orthopaedics, including Reconstruction, Trauma and Clinical Therapies; Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management.  Smith & Nephew is a global leader in arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of the leading global orthopaedics companies.

Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives.  The Company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons and professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with high standards of performance, innovation and trust.  The Company operates in 32 countries around the world.  Annual sales in 2008 were nearly $3.8 billion.

 

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