22nd Mar 2019 15:13
(Correcting Keith Williams' position on Aviva's board.)
LONDON (Alliance News) - Aviva PLC on Friday said Independent Non-Executive Director Keith Williams will be departing in May to lead FTSE 250-listed Royal Mail PLC's board as chair.
Williams is already deputy chair at Royal Mail, but will take over from Les Owen as chair on May 22, following the release of its annual results for its year ending March 25.
Royal Mail said Williams is a "highly regarded" bushiness leader. Williams was formerly chief financial officer, chief executive, and executive chair at British Airways PLC, now part of International Consolidated Airlines Group SA.
Williams will leave Aviva on May 23, following the FTSE 100 insurer's annual general meeting.
Aviva's Senior Independent Director Glyn Barker will become interim chair of the insurer's audit committee while a permanent replacement is looked for.
Royal Mail Senior Independent Director Orna Ni-Chionna, who led the search for a new chair, said: "Our external search has confirmed Keith Williams is the right person to chair the Royal Mail group through a significant period of change. The company will benefit from his strong leadership skills, and his industrial relations, operational and strategic expertise.
"On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Les for his dedication and commitment to Royal Mail. As chair since September, he has provided strong leadership and steady support to the board as we have sought to address a number of very significant challenges. We are grateful to him for stepping up into the chair's role as we sought to find a long-term appointee."
Shares in Royal Mail were down 2.7% Friday at 242.30 pence each. Aviva was trading 3.6% lower at 409.10p each.
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