CNCT.L Regulatory News (CNCT)

18 Oct 2007 07:02

Smiths News PLC18 October 2007 Smiths News PLC Dennis Millard to succeed Brendan Fitzmaurice as Chairman Smiths News PLC ('Smiths News') announces the following change to the Board. Brendan Fitzmaurice (age 64) is to retire as Chairman at the Smiths News AnnualGeneral Meeting on 6 February 2008. He will be succeeded by Dennis Millard (age58) currently Deputy Chairman and Senior Independent Director. Dennis Millard joined the Board of Smiths News on the demerger of WH SmithRetail on 31 August 2006. He is currently a non-executive director and Chairmanof the Audit Committees of Debenhams plc and Xchanging plc and a non-executivedirector of EAG Limited and Premier Farnell plc. Commenting, Brendan Fitzmaurice said: "I am grateful for the support of everyone I have worked with at Smiths News andWH Smith during my 47 years with the business. It is now a little over a yearsince the demerger of WH Smith Retail and as the business has made such anexcellent transition I have decided it is time to make way for a new Chairman. Ilook forward to continuing in my current role until the Annual General Meeting,at which time my successor will take over." Commenting, Mark Cashmore, Chief Executive said: "I'd like to thank Brendan for his contribution to the business - not just inhis time as Chairman, but also for the 47 years he has worked in the Newsbusiness. As Managing Director he was an inspirational leader whose passion forthe business and knowledge of our operation helped us to rebuild from a low baseinto the market leader we are today. As Chairman he has been a terrific supportto me during the period of transition." Commenting, Dennis Millard said: "I am very pleased at the prospect of becoming Chairman of Smiths News; it is agreat company with a solid core business and exciting opportunities to build onits existing skills and competencies to develop new business opportunities.Brendan has led the Board with great skill over the last year and I wish him ahappy and long retirement." End For further information: Mark Charlton Smiths News 01793 563516Kerrie Colford Smiths News 01793 563516 Notes to editors Dennis Millard Dennis Millard joined the Board of Smiths News on 31 August 2006. He iscurrently a non-executive director and Chairman of the Audit Committees ofDebenhams plc and Xchanging plc and a non-executive director of EAG Limited andPremier Farnell plc. He was previously Group Finance Director of Cookson Groupplc from 1996 to 2005, Finance Director of Medeva plc from 1994 to 1996, and adirector of the Plate Glass Group, a South African public company, from 1980 to1993. He was a non-executive director and Chairman of the Audit Committee ofExel plc from 2003 until 2005 and ARC International plc from 2001 until 2003. Brendan Fitzmaurice Brendan Fitzmaurice became the first Chairman of Smiths News on 31 August 2006,having previously been Managing Director of WH Smith News. He worked fordifferent parts of the WH Smith Group for 46 years. He joined WH Smith News in1985 as Sales and Marketing Manager for magazines and was appointed LogisticsDirector in 2001. He is a non-executive director of the charity Newstraid. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange