Board Changes

18 October 2016

Utilitywise plc

("Utilitywise" or "the Group")

Board Changes

Utilitywise plc (AIM:UTW), a leading independent utility cost management consultancy, today announces that Jon Kempster, Chief Financial Officer, has decided to step down from the Board and leave the Group to pursue other career opportunities. Jon has made a significant contribution to the strengthening of the day-to-day finance function of Utilitywise, creating a strong team to support the Group's growth, and the Board wishes him well in the future.

The Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Laker as Chief Financial Officer and a Director of the Company. Richard joins Utilitywise from Augean plc where, in his role as Group Finance Director, he helped oversee the implementation of a new strategy, delivering double-digit annual growth in profit, operating cash flow and ROCE. Richard was previously at Northgate plc, where he held a number of senior finance roles between 2004 and 2014 including Group Financial Controller and, most recently, UK Finance Director. Prior to joining Northgate plc, Richard was at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2001. Richard's start date will be confirmed in a further announcement, until such time Jon will remain with the Group to ensure an orderly succession.

Simon Waugh has also been appointed to the Board, as Non-Executive Director and the Senior Independent Director, with effect from 1 November 2016. Simon has extensive experience in senior leadership roles, including seven years between 1997 and 2004 on the executive committee at Centrica plc as Sales & Marketing Director, helping transform British Gas into an international business with a market capitalisation of more than £10 billion. He was also Chief Executive Officer, Centrica Financial Services, in the early part of his tenure, before later becoming Deputy Managing Director, British Gas.

Jon Kempster is also standing down as Company Secretary with effect from 1 November 2016. Julianne McCorry, currently Assistant Company Secretary, has been appointed Company Secretary with effect from that date. Julianne is a Chartered Secretary (FCIS) and has had an extensive career in both the UK and France, holding a number of senior posts including Assistant Company Secretary of Unilever plc.

Geoff Thompson, Executive Chairman of Utilitywise, commented:

"On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Jon for his significant contribution to the Group and I wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career.

"At the same time, I look forward to welcoming to the Board Richard Laker as our new CFO and Simon Waugh as Non-Executive Director and SID. Richard has an exceptional track record, having supported the development of two fast-growing plcs, and I have no doubt he will continue in a similar vein at Utilitywise. Simon's CV speaks for itself and it is testament to how far the Group has come since listing that we're able to attract someone of his calibre.

"With Richard and Simon joining, and further to the recent appointment of Brendan Flattery as our new CEO on the 1st of October, I am confident that we have the right management team in place to lead the Group through this next exciting stage in its development."

Brendan Flattery, CEO of Utilitywise, said:

"Utilitywise is a fast-growing and ambitious company and Richard and Simon each possess the right mix of skills and experience to help it thrive. I look forward to working closely with them both as we continue to develop our market leading procurement and energy services businesses."

The following information is disclosed pursuant to Schedule Two paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies:

Mr Richard Stephen Laker (Age 40)

Current Directorships / Partnerships:

Augean plc

Augean Integrated Services Limited

Augean North Limited

Augean North Sea Services Limited

Augean South Limited

Augean Treatment Limited

Colt Holdings Limited

Colt Industrial Services Limited

Hitech Equipment Limited

RNA Investments Limited

Tueart Limited

Previous Directorships / Partnerships (held in the past five years):

A1 Self Drive (Warrington) Limited

Acorn Self Drive Limited

Adrian Truck Hire Limited

Anchor Vehicle Hire Limited

Autorentals (Cleveland) Limited

Beeston Van Hire Limited

Bellamour Car, Van & Truck Rental Limited

Betsafe Limited

British Overseas Stores Limited

Caledonian Self Drive Limited

Cartrux Vehicle Hire Limited

Cymru Vehicle Hire Limited

Daman Vehicle Rental Limited

Don Valley Self Drive Limited

Fleet Technique Limited

Foley Self Drive Limited

Goode Durrant & Murray Limited

Goode Durrant Administration Limited

GPS Body Repairs Limited

GWR Vehicle Hire Limited

Hampsons (Self Drive Hire) Limited

Imperial Self Drive Limited

John Nixon Vehicle Hire Limited

Lancashire Vehicle Rental Limited

Lathom Van Hire Limited

Lothian Self Drive Limited

LVR Rental Limited

Maincrest Vehicle Hire Limited

Mercia Vehicle Hire Limited

Mobility Car & Van Hire Limited

NLS Legal & Insolvency

Noble Vehicle Hire Limited

Norfleet Limited

Northgate (AVR) Dealership Rentals Limited

Northgate (AVR) Limited

Northgate Central Reservations Limited

Northgate Vehicle Hire (East Anglia) Limited

Northgate Vehicle Hire (East Midlands) Limited

Northgate Vehicle Hire (Home Counties) Limited

Northgate Vehicle Hire (Ireland) Limited

Northgate Vehicle Hire (NI) Limited

Northgate Vehicle Hire (North East) Limited

Northgate Vehicle Hire (North West) Limited

Northgate Vehicle Hire (Scot & Ni) Limited

Northgate Vehicle Hire (South East) Limited

Northgate Vehicle Hire (South) Limited

Northgate Vehicle Hire (Sw & W) Limited

Northgate Vehicle Hire (West Midlands) Limited

Northgate Vehicle Hire Limited

Northgate Vehicle Solutions Limited

NTR Vehicle Rental Limited

Orbital Self Drive Limited

Orchard Self Drive Limited

Provident Enterprises Limited

Sigma Self Drive Limited

Signal Vehicle Hire Limited

Solent Self Drive Limited

Strathclyde Self Drive Limited

Target Vehicle Hire Limited

Transline Vehicle Hire Limited

Trident Vehicle Hire Limited

Trukvan Rental Limited

UK Vehicle Rental Limited

Vickers (Northern) Limited

Vocas Limited

Weaverton Limited

Willdrive Limited

Willhire Services Limited

Mr. Laker does not currently hold any ordinary shares in the Company. 

Mr Simon John Waugh (Age 58)

Current Directorships / Partnerships:

CMC Markets PLC

The Consulting Consortium Limited

Record Sure Limited

Gallagher Benefit Services (holdings) Limited

Gallagher Risk & Reward Limited

BMLL Technologies Limited

Age UK Trading CIC

Age UK Enterprises Limited

Age UK

Aid-Call Limited

Ingenuity Holdings Limited

Swaines Limited

Previous Directorships / Partnerships (held in the past five years):

Information Internet Limited

Sparks Charity

The Skills Show Ltd.

Partnership Home Loans Limited

Partnership Life Assurance Company Limited

Partnership Assurance Group Plc

Mydrive Solutions Limited

Mr. Waugh does not currently hold any ordinary shares in the Company. 

There are no other disclosures required in relation to Rule 17 or paragraph (g) of Schedule 2 of the AIM Rules for Companies.

For further information, please contact:

About Utilitywise

Utilitywise is a leading independent utility cost management and services consultancy based in Newcastle. The Group has established trading relationships with a number of major UK and European energy suppliers and provides services to its customers designed to assist them in achieving better value out of their energy contracts, reduced energy consumption and lower carbon footprint.