Statement re Appointments
SMG PLC
20 August 2007
20 August 2007
Board of Virgin Radio Holdings Limited Unveiled -
appointment of Chairman, Senior Independent Director
and Chief Financial Officer
SMG plc is pleased to announce the following key appointments to the Board of
Virgin Radio Holdings Limited. Richard Huntingford has been appointed as
Non-Executive Chairman and Rosemary Thorne appointed as Senior Independent
Director to the Virgin Radio Holdings Limited Board from 1 September 2007. SMG
is also pleased to confirm that David Palmer has been appointed Chief Financial
Officer of Virgin Radio, having started on 3 July 2007.
Richard Huntingford, Chairman, Virgin Radio Holdings Limited
Richard, 51, is one of the most respected figures in commercial radio having
masterminded the development of Chrysalis into one of the UK's leading radio
groups prior to its recent sale to Global Radio. Richard joined Chrysalis in
1987 as Corporate Development Director and was responsible for the company's
initial investment in the radio sector in 1992 becoming CEO of Chrysalis Radio
in 1994. In this role, he successfully expanded the division through a brand-led
strategy that saw Heart and Galaxy become major new forces in UK commercial
radio. In December 2000, he was promoted to Group CEO. Previously, Richard
worked for 12 years as a Chartered Accountant for KPMG. In 2005, Richard became
a non-executive director at Virgin Mobile Holdings (UK) plc until its
acquisition by NTL in July 2006.
Rosemary P Thorne, Senior Independent Director, Virgin Radio Holdings Limited
Rosemary, 55, is an extremely successful businesswoman with a distinguished PLC
career as Group Finance Director of Ladbrokes plc (2006-2007), Bradford and
Bingley plc (1999-2005), and J Sainsbury plc (1992-1999). She was a
non-executive director of Royal Mail plc (1998 - 2004) and has been a
non-executive director of Cadbury Schweppes plc since 2004 and Abbey National
plc since 2006. Rosemary was a member of the Financial Reporting Council for
nine years until May 2007, and a member of the Financial Reporting Review Panel
until October 2006. She was also a member of the Hundred Group of Finance
Directors, one of the most influential industry bodies, until April 2007.
David Palmer, Chief Financial Officer, Virgin Radio Holdings Limited
David, 53, is a highly experienced Finance Director with board level experience
in large company divisions, venture capital backed private and quoted companies.
Since 1999, David has been involved in many growth and restructuring assignments
including: British Mediterranean Airways Limited the mid-haul airline operating
BA franchise; Local Press Limited a venture capital backed MBO of regional
newspaper publishing group; Global Direct Dealing Limited and Swiss subsidiary
GDD AG an internet futures broker.
Commenting on the appointments, Rob Woodward, Chief Executive Officer of SMG plc
said:
'Virgin Radio now has a high quality Board which, along with the proven
management team led by Chief Executive Paul Jackson, will oversee the flotation
of Virgin Radio. I am delighted that we have secured individuals of such
quality. Richard, Rosemary and David will be instrumental in the growth of
Virgin Radio over the coming years.'
Commenting on the announcement, Paul Jackson, CEO of Virgin Radio, said:
'I am delighted to welcome Richard, Rosemary and David to guide us through the
flotation and beyond. Virgin Radio is one of the great brand names in media with
an attractive national audience, strong relationships with advertisers and a
clear growth strategy. We look forward to their wise counsel and support.'
Further enquiries:
SMG plc
Rob Woodward, Chief Executive Tel: 020 7882 1199
George Watt, Chief Financial Officer
Debbie Johnston, Head of Communications
Brunswick Group LLP
James Hogan / Simon Sporborg / Ash Spiegelberg Tel: 020 7404 5959
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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