Group Press Releases
Appointment of non-executive directors and group CFO
16 July 2009
Aegis Group plc, the media communications and market research group, today announces the appointment of three new non-executive directors and a new group CFO.
The newly appointed non-executive directors are John Brady, Simon Laffin and Dr Martin Read. They replace those who retired at the AGM in May. All three directors will take up their appointments on 1 August and Simon Laffin will become chairman of the Audit Committee. Brendan O’Neill also retires from the Board as a non-executive director on 1 October.
At the same time, Nick Priday has been appointed as group CFO with effect from 1 September. He replaces Alicja Lesniak, who is retiring from the group in October. Currently director of financial reporting, Nick has held a variety of finance roles at Aegis since joining in 2003 and qualified as a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young.
John Napier, chairman and interim CEO, commented:
“These appointments complete the major part of the reorganisation of the Aegis Board. I am pleased to welcome the new non-executives to Aegis and to appoint Nick to the role of CFO. I would particularly like to thank Alicja for the contribution she has made to the group in her time here, and Brendan for his four years of service on the Board and his support in achieving an orderly transition.”
Alicja Lesniak, group CFO, commented:
“I have enjoyed being part of Aegis. Good progress has been made as the group evolves to meet the challenges of tough markets and the needs of clients. I am delighted to see Nick appointed, having helped develop him as my successor. I look forward to returning to my plural career as a non-executive.”
For further information contact:
Charlotte Elston
Aegis Group plc
+44 (0) 20 7070 7708
Andrew Grant
Tulchan
+44 (0) 20 7353 4200
Notes to editors
Simon Laffin is a non-executive director of Quintain Estates & Development and Mitchells & Butlers, an advisor to CVC Capital Partners and chairman of Hozelock Group. From 2007 to 2008 he served as a non-executive director of Northern Rock, as part of the rescue team. Between 1995 and 2004 he was group CFO of UK grocery retailer Safeway, which he joined in 1990. Prior to that, Simon held a variety of finance and management roles in Mars Confectionery, Rank Xerox and BP. He is a qualified accountant.
John Brady serves on the Boards of Green King and Invest Northern Ireland as a non-executive director, and was previously a non-executive director of Hanson. Between 1980 and 2004 he worked for McKinsey & Company, the international management consultancy, where he had a range of senior roles including responsibility for McKinsey’s European Retail and Marketing practices and its in-house start-up incubator.
Dr Martin Read has recently been appointed a non-executive director of Invensys, and is a senior advisor to HCL Technologies and a member of the International Advisory Board of the CBI. He has previously served as a non-executive director of British Airways, Siemens Holdings, Boots and ASDA. From 1993 to 2007 he was CEO of Logica, the information technology services and consulting group. Prior to that, Martin held a variety of positions at GEC Marconi, International Paint and Overseas Containers.
Following these appointments, the Board of Aegis will consist of:
- John Napier, chairman and interim group CEO
- Nick Priday, group CFO (from 1 September)
- Jerry Buhlmann, CEO of Aegis Media
- Adrian Chedore, CEO of Synovate
- John Brady, non-executive director
- Simon Laffin, non-executive director
- Dr Martin Read, non-executive director
- Charles Strauss, non-executive director
- Lorraine Trainer, non-executive director
