Appointment of Chief Financial Officer

RNS Number : 2249I

Smiths News PLC

11 August 2021

 

11 August 2021

Smiths News PLC

(Smiths News or the Company)

Chief Financial Officer and Director Appointment

Smiths News is pleased to announce that Paul Baker has been appointed Chief Financial Officer, effective from his starting date with the Company on 4 October 2021. On joining, Paul will be immediately appointed as a director of the Company.

As announced on 5 May 2021 (see RNS Number: 5404X), current Chief Financial Officer, Tony Grace, has confirmed his intention to retire from his executive role on 31 December 2021.  It is expected that Tony will step down from the Board on 30 November 2021.  Until then, Tony will continue as a director of the Company in order to support the Board through an appropriate handover period and the finalisation of the current financial year's (FY2021) audited results.  ^.

Paul is a highly experienced senior executive, with extensive and relevant financial and business transformation experience, most recently as Integration Director at Compass Group plc.  Prior to that, he held various regional and divisional Finance Director roles within each of Compass Group (2013 to 2021), Iglo Group/ Birds Eye Limited (2011 to 2013) and Cadbury Schweppes PLC (1997 to 2010).

David Blackwood, Chairman of Smiths News , commented :

" I am delighted to welcome Paul to Smiths News as Chief Financial Officer.  He brings with him a track record of delivering strategic and operational change in fast moving environments and is expected to further enhance and broaden the executive team's capability and experience . As a Board, we look forward to working with Paul and would also like to wish Tony a happy and healthy forthcoming retirement. "

The Company confirms that there is no further information about Paul Baker requiring disclosure under paragraph 9.6.13 of the Listing Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority.

Enquiries:

Smiths News PLC Jonathan Bunting, Chief Executive Officer Tony Grace, Chief Financial Officer	Via Buchanan
www.corporate.smithsnews.co.uk
Buchanan Richard Oldworth / Jamie Hooper / Toto Berger smithsnews @buchanan.uk.com www.buchanan.uk.com	020 7466 5000

About Smiths News PLC

Smiths News PLC and its core business, Smiths News, is the UK's largest newspaper and magazine wholesaler, with an approximate 55 per cent. market share. It distributes newspapers and magazines on behalf of the major national and regional publishers, delivering to approximately 24,000 customers across England and Wales on a daily basis. The speed of turnaround and the density of Smiths News' coverage is critical to one of the world's fastest physical supply chains.

Ancillary businesses include: Dawson Media Direct (DMD) which supplies airlines and travel points in the UK; and Instore, which offers field marketing services to retailers and suppliers across the UK.

Person responsible for arranging release of this announcement:

Stuart Marriner, General Counsel & Company Secretary

Smiths News plc

Rowan House

Cherry Orchard North

Kembrey Park

Swindon

SN2 8UH

email: [e-mail]

LEI: 2138004O33ONVOOQXB02

 

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