Board Appointment

RNS Number : 2356Q

Smiths News PLC

30 July 2010

 



Smiths News PLC

Board Appointment

Smiths News PLC (the "Group") is pleased to announce that Nick Gresham, who will join the Group as Chief Financial Officer on 1 August 2010, will join the Board as an executive director with effect from 1 August 2010.

As previously announced on 22 April 2010, Nick has spent eight years in senior financial roles at Home Retail Group.  Prior to this he was Head of Strategic Finance at GUS and held key financial roles at Virgin Music Group Ltd and Debenhams plc.

Nick will succeed Alan Humphrey who, as announced on 1 March 2010, is retiring.  Alan will remain with the Group and on the Board until a smooth transition has been achieved.

Dennis Millard, Chairman of Smiths News PLC commented:

""I am delighted to welcome Nick to Smiths News and looking forward to his contribution and support in delivering our growth strategy."

Enquiries:

Smiths News PLC Mark Cashmore, Group Chief Executive	Tel: [phone]
Buchanan Communications
Mark Edwards / Jeremy Garcia	Tel:  [phone]

About Smiths News PLC:

Smiths News PLC ("the Group") comprises Smiths News, the UK's leading wholesaler of newspapers and magazines and Bertrams, a leading UK book wholesaler. The Group was formed on 1 September 2006 following the demerger of WH Smith PLC.

Smiths News distributes newspapers and magazines on behalf of all the major national publishers as well as a large number of regional publishers. The business serves approximately 30,000 customers across England and Wales, supplying large general retailers as well as smaller independent newsagents. Smiths News has an approximate 55% share of the newspaper and magazine wholesaling market in the UK. In addition to its distribution activities, Smiths News collects and processes returns, supplies sales information to publishers and provides a range of services for its retail customers.

Bertrams, which was acquired on 20 March 2009, supplies books to a mix of independent booksellers, on-line and multiple retailers, and libraries. Bertrams has an approximate 45% share of the wholesale book market.

The Group operates from 62 distribution centres across England and Wales, and employs 5,500 staff.

 

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