Board succession update

RNS Number : 5867F
Watkin Jones plc
19 July 2021
 

 

 

For immediate release

19 July 2021

 

 

Watkin Jones plc

('Watkin Jones' or the 'Group')

 

Board succession update

 

On 14 April 2021, Watkin Jones plc (AIM:WJG) announced that as part of its long term Board succession planning, Grenville Turner had given notice of his intention to retire as Chair during 2021 and that Phil Byrom, Chief Financial Officer, had also given notice of his intention to retire in 2022. Following an active recruitment process, the Board is pleased to announce the appointments of a new Chair-designate and CFO-designate.

 

Appointment of non-executive director and Chair-designate

Alan Giddins is appointed as non-executive director and Chair-designate with immediate effect. It is intended that Grenville will step down from the Board in October 2021 and that Alan will take over as Chair, having allowed time for an orderly handover.

 

Alan is currently Chair of Hill & Smith Holdings PLC, the FTSE 250 international group creating sustainable infrastructure and safe transport solutions, having joined in October 2017 as the Senior Independent Director, before assuming the role of Chair in October 2019.  Alan is also a non-executive director and investment committee member of Big Society Capital Limited, the UK's largest social impact-led investor.

 

Alan brings a wealth of board, investment and ESG experience, having been Managing Partner and Global Head of Private Equity at 3i Group plc ('3i'), and sat on the boards of a number of 3i's largest private equity investments. Prior to joining 3i in 2005, Alan spent 13 years in investment banking advising a broad range of quoted companies. He qualified as a chartered accountant and has a degree in economics.

 

Appointment of Chief Financial Officer-designate

Sarah Sergeant is appointed to the Board as Chief Financial Officer-designate with effect from 6 October 2021. Phil Byrom will step down from the Board, and Sarah step up to CFO after a suitable handover period.

 

Sarah is currently the Chief Financial Officer of the UK & Ireland region at Compass Group PLC, the FTSE 30 food and support services company. She has held a number of senior finance and operational roles over her 13-year tenure at Compass, including Group Financial Controller, M&A Director, and CFO of the Asia Pacific region, based in Singapore. Sarah brings considerable financial, strategic and operational experience from across the commercial spectrum. She is a chartered accountant.

 

Grenville Turner, Chair, commented on the Board appointments: "We are delighted to welcome Alan and Sarah to the Board. Alan brings considerable expertise particularly in guiding companies through the execution of their growth strategies and Sarah brings significant financial and operational experience working in complex businesses. Their experience will be invaluable to Watkin Jones as we continue to grow the business."

 

 

For further information:

Watkin Jones plc


Grenville Turner, Non-Executive Chair

Richard Simpson, Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3617 4453

Phil Byrom, Chief Financial Officer

www.watkinjonesplc.com



 

Peel Hunt LLP (Nominated Adviser & Joint Corporate Broker)

 

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7418 8900

Mike Bell / Ed Allsopp

www.peelhunt.com



 

Jefferies Hoare Govett (Joint Corporate Broker)

 

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7029 8000

Max Jones / Will Soutar

 

www.jefferies.com




Media enquiries:

Buchanan


Henry Harrison-Topham / Richard Oldworth

Jamie Hooper / Steph Watson

 

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000

watkinjones@buchanan.uk.com

www.buchanan.uk.com

 

 

Disclosures required by Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules for Companies:

 

Alan Clifford Bence Giddins, aged 55, holds or has previously held the following directorships and partnerships in the last five years:

 

Current appointments

Appointments held within the last five years

Big Society Capital Limited

3i Investments plc

Buyouts C&C 2010A LP

Boketto Holdco Limited

Growth C&C 2010 LP

Buyouts CCC 08-10 A LP

Hill & Smith Holdings PLC

Harper Topco Limited

Pan European Buyouts Co-invest 2006-08 LP

Pan European Buyouts 2004-06 LP

PE 2013-16 DBD LP


PE 2013-16 Pool LP


PE 2016-19 Co-invest LP


PE 2016-19 DBD LP


PE 2016-19 Pool LP


The Tennis & Rackets Association Limited


 

Sarah Jane Sergeant (nee Chapman), aged 48, holds or has previously held the following directorships in the last five years:

 

Current appointments

Appointments held within the last five years

14Forty Limited

Audrey (London) Limited

3 Gates Services Limited

Audrey Investments Limited

A.C.M.S. Limited

Bateman Services Limited

Bateman Catering Limited

Compass Group Finance No. 3 Limited

Bateman Catering Organization Limited (The)

Compass Group Finance No.2 Limited

Bateman Healthcare Services Limited

Compass Group Finance No.4 Limited

Baxter and Platts Limited

Compass Group Finance No.5 Limited

Bromwich Catering Limited

Compass Group North America Investments Limited

Business Clean Limited

Compass Group North America Investments No.2

Capitol Catering Management Services Limited

Compass Group Trustees Limited

Carlton Catering Partnership Limited

Compass Healthcare Group Limited

Castle Independent Limited

Compass Hospitality Group Holdings Limited

Cataforce Limited

Compass Hospitality Group Limited

Caterexchange Limited

Compass Hotels Chertsey

Caterskill Group Limited

Compass Nominee Company Number Fourteen Limited

Caterskill Management Limited

Compass Overseas Holdings Limited

CCG (UK) Limited

Compass Overseas Holdings No.2 Limited

Chalk Catering Limited

Compass Overseas Services Limited

Chartwells Hounslow (Feeding Futures) Limited

Compass Pension Trustees Limited

Chartwells Limited

Compass Quest Limited

Circadia Limited

Compass Scottish Site Services Limited

Cleaning Support Services Limited

Compass Site Services Limited

Coffee Partners Limited

Compass UK Pension Trustee Co Limited

Compass Accounting Services Limited

Eurest Support Services (Cyprus) International Limited

Compass Catering Services Limited

Gogmore

Compass Cleaning Services Limited

Meritglen Limited

Compass Contract Services (U.K.) Limited

New Famous Foods Limited

Compass Contract Services Limited

Nextonline Limited

Compass Contracts UK Limited

Riversdell

Compass Experience Limited

Sevita (UK) Limited

Compass Food Services Limited


Compass Group Medical Benefits Limited


Compass Group Procurement Limited


Compass Group, UK and Ireland Limited


Compass Mobile Catering Limited


Compass Office Cleaning Services Limited


Compass Offshore Catering Limited


Compass Payroll Services Limited


Compass Planning and Design Limited


Compass Purchasing Limited


Compass Restaurant Properties Limited


Compass Road Services Limited


Compass Secretaries Limited


Compass Security Limited


Compass Security OldCo Group Limited


Compass Security OldCo Holdings Limited


Compass Security OldCo Investments Limited


Compass Services (Midlands) Limited


Compass Services (U.K.) Limited


Compass Services for Hospitals Limited


Compass Services Group Limited


Compass Services Limited


Compass Services Trading Limited


Compass Services, UK and Ireland Limited


Compass Staff Services Limited


Cookie Jar Limited


Crbs Resourcing Limited


Crn 1990 (Four) Limited


Customised Contract Catering Limited


Cygnet Foods Holdings Limited


Cygnet Foods Limited


Dine Contract Catering Limited


Dre Developments Limited


Eat Dot Limited


Eaton Catering Limited


Eaton Wine Bars Limited


Eurest Airport Services Limited


Eurest Defence Support Services Limited


Eurest Offshore Support Services Limited


Eurest Prison Support Services Limited




Eurest UK Limited


Everson Hewett Limited


Facilities Management Catering Limited


Fads Catering Limited


Fairfield Catering Company Limited


Feedr Limited


Fingerprint Managed Services Limited


Foodbuy Europe Limited


Funpark Caterers Limited


Goodfellows Catering Management Services Limited


Gruppo Events Limited


Hallmark Catering Management Limited


Hamard Catering Management Services Limited


Hamard Group Limited


Henry Higgins Limited


Hospital Hygiene Services Limited


ICM Five Star Limited


Integrated Cleaning Management Limited


Integrated Cleaning Management Support Services Limited


Keith Prowse Limited


Kennedy Brookes Finance Limited


Knott Hotels Company Of London


Langston Scott Limited


Leisure Support Services Limited


Leith's Limited


Letheby & Christopher Limited


Lough Erne Holiday Village Limited


Meal Service Company Limited


Milburns Catering Contracts Limited


Milburns Limited


Milburns Restaurants Limited


National Catering Limited


National Leisure Catering Limited


NLC (Holdings) Limited


NLC (Wembley) Limited


P & C Morris (Catering) Limited


P & C Morris Catering Group Limited


Payne & Gunter Limited


Pdm Training and Compliance Services Limited


Pennine Services Limited


Peter Parfitt Leisure Overseas Travel Limited


Peter Parfitt Sport Limited


PPP Infrastructure Management Limited


Prideoak Limited


QCL Limited


Quaglino's Limited


Reliable Refreshments Limited


Rhine Four Limited


Roux Fine Dining Limited


Scolarest Limited


Security Office Cleaners Limited


Selkirk House (CVH) Limited


Selkirk House (FP) Limited


Selkirk House (GHPL) Limited


Selkirk House (GTP) Limited


Selkirk House (Wbrk) Limited


Shaw Catering Company Limited


Ski Class Limited


Solutions On Systems Ltd


Springboard UK Limited


Summit Catering Limited


Sunway Contract Services Limited


Sutcliffe Catering Midlands Limited


Sutcliffe Catering South East Limited


Sycamore Newco Limited


The Charleston Trust (Bloomsbury In Sussex)


The Compass Group Foundation


The Cuisine Centre Limited


The Excelsior Insurance Company Limited


The Springboard Charity


THF Oil Limited


Tunco (1999) 103 Limited


Vendepac Holdings Limited


Waseley (CVI) Limited


Waseley (CVS) Limited


Waseley Fifteen Limited


Waseley Nominees Limited


Wembley Sports Arena Limited


Wheeler's Restaurants Limited


Woodin & Johns Limited




 

There is no other information that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Schedule 2 paragraph (g) or Rule 17 of the AIM Rules for Companies in respect of Alan Giddins or Sarah Sergeant.

 

Notes to Editors

Watkin Jones is the UK's leading developer and manager of residential for rent, with a focus on the build to rent and student accommodation sectors.  The Group has strong relationships with institutional investors, and a reputation for successful, on-time-delivery of high quality developments.  Since 1999, Watkin Jones has delivered 43,000 student beds across 130 sites, making it a key player and leader in the UK purpose-built student accommodation market.  In addition, Fresh, the Group's specialist accommodation management business, manages over 20,000 student beds and build to rent apartments on behalf of its institutional clients.  Watkin Jones has also been responsible for over 80 residential developments, ranging from starter homes to executive housing and apartments.  The Group is increasingly expanding its operations into the build to rent sector.

 

The Group's competitive advantage lies in its experienced management team and business model, which enables it to offer an end-to-end solution for investors, delivered entirely in-house with minimal reliance on third parties, across the entire life cycle of an asset.

 

Watkin Jones was admitted to trading on AIM in March 2016 with the ticker WJG.L.  For additional information please visit www.watkinjonesplc.com

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