Appointment of Chief Financial Officer and Non-Executive Director Change
Nichols plc, the diversified soft drinks group, announces the following changes to its Board.
Appointment of CFO
The Group is pleased to announce that Richard Newman will join the Board as a Director with effect from 29 January 2024 before becoming Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Company Secretary in March 2024 following the publication of the Group’s Preliminary Results for the year to 31 December 2023. David Taylor, who is currently acting as Interim CFO and Company Secretary, will step down from the Board at the same time in March following a smooth transition of responsibilities.
Richard brings extensive and relevant UK public company financial experience having held a number of senior plc roles and most recently, between 2021 and 2023, as CFO at AIM-listed Accrol Group Holdings Plc.
Richard joined Cadbury plc in 1996 progressing to Finance and IT Director for Ireland and then Group Financial Controller. After 15 years with Cadbury, he took a new role as Divisional Finance Director at National Express Group plc before joining DS Smith plc in 2015 as UK Finance Director for Packaging. Richard is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, having qualified with PwC in 1993.
Non-Executive Director Change
After 18 successful years with Nichols, both in executive positions and as a Non-Executive Director, James Nichols has decided that he wishes to pursue a fresh challenge and will leave the Board and the business with effect from 24 October 2023.
It is expected that a new representative of the Nichols family will be appointed as a Non-Executive Director in due course, pursuant to the terms of the Relationship Agreement between Nichols plc and the Nichols family which entitles the family to two Non-Executive Board positions (assuming an aggregate of interest by the Nichols family of equal to or greater than 30 per cent of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company).
Liz McMeikan, Non-Executive Chair, commented:
“On behalf of the Board I would like to thank James for his significant contribution over the past 18 years and we wish him well and every success for the future.
Following a thorough search process, we are delighted that Richard will be joining the business and the Board next year. Richard brings a wealth of highly relevant experience to the Group and I have every confidence that he will make a substantial contribution to the Group’s continued development and growth.”
The following disclosures are required regarding Richard Newman’s appointment pursuant to Schedule Two paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies (the “AIM Rules“).
Richard Newman
Richard Hugh Newman (aged 54) is currently, or has during the past five years been, a director of the following companies:
| Current directorships or partnerships | Previous directorships or partnerships |
| · n/a | · DS Smith Corrugated Packaging Limited· DS Smith Packaging Limited· Accrol Group Holdings plc· Accrol Holdings Limited· Accrol Papers Limited· Accrol UK Limited· ART Tissue Limited· Leicester Tissue Company Limited· LTC Parent Limited· John Dale Limited· John Dale (Holdings) Limited· TRM Packaging Limited· Creo Property Limited· Creo Retail Marketing Holdings Limited· Creo Retail Marketing Limited |
Save as set out above, there are no further information to be disclosed in accordance with Schedule Two paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules.