Board changes and trading update
Aukett Swanke Group Plc (the “Group”), the international group of architects and interior designers announces the following board changes today:
Andrew Murdoch and Nick Pell are stepping down from the Group board effective today in order to focus on their roles within the Group’s operations. Andrew is to take up the role of Chairman in our Middle East business and will be based full time in Dubai. His role will encompass high level business development and client marketing in support of our growing platform in the region. Nick remains in the UK business with the remit to expand our international network of clients particularly focusing on Russia and China in the interior design market.
Robert Fry who is currently a Managing Director in our international business will join the board effective today. Robert has extensive experience as a registered architect and was formerly Managing Director in Swanke Hayden Connell Europe. Robert’s current responsibility is the oversight and management of our Continental European business, a role he retains. On the board Robert will be part of the team looking at our longer term development in each of our business hubs along with the CEO and CFO.
Our Chairman, Anthony Simmonds, has indicated that he intends to retire in March 2019 and accordingly does not intend to stand for re-election at the 2019 AGM. The Board will be looking to appointing a new Chairman in due course and will also be seeking to increase the non-executive directors to three in number.
These changes achieve part of the Group’s longer term strategy to restructure the Board in order to balance the executive and non-executive representation and to provide for future succession.
At the AGM due to take place at 10.00 am today the following update on trading will be provided:
Consistent with both the Chairman’s statement and the Strategic Report at the time of the 2017 results’ announcement in January we continue to anticipate that 2018 overall will be loss making, particularly in the UK. We expect a larger loss in the first half compared to last year, followed by a profit in the second half.
Enquiries
Aukett Swanke Group Plc – 0207 843 3000
Nicholas Thompson, Chief Executive Officer
Beverley Wright, Chief Financial Officer
finnCap – 0207 220 0500
Corporate Finance: Julian Blunt/Giles Rolls
Corporate Broking: Alice Lane
Investor/Media Enquiries
Ben Alexander 07926 054111
Additional Information
In accordance with the AIM Rules, the following information required to be disclosed in relation to Robert Fry is set out below. Other than this information, there is no further information required to be disclosed under paragraph (g) of Schedule Two of the AIM Rules.
Full name and age
Robert Stanley Fry aged 61
Current beneficial shareholding in the Group
2,150,000 ordinary shares representing 1.3% of the issued share capital
Current Directorships and Partnerships
Swanke Hayden Connell Europe Limited
Swanke Hayden Connell International Limited
Aukett Swanke ‘OOO’ (LLC)
Swanke Hayden Connell Mimarlik Anonim Sirketi
Kentish Gardens Estate Management Ltd
Former Directorships (previous five years)
None
The information communicated in this announcement is inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation 596/2014.