Board Changes

Alternative Networks plc

("Alternative Networks" or "the Company")

Board Changes

Summary

·; James Murray moves to Executive Chairman with Edward Spurrier taking over as Chief Executive

·; Appointment of new Deputy Chairman (Senior Independent)

·; Appointment of new Non-Executive Director

Board Changes

Chairman and Chief Executive

Alternative Networks announces that James Murray will assume the role of Executive Chairman with effect from 1 January 2013. At the same time, Edward Spurrier will take over as Chief Executive. James Murray and Edward Spurrier have led the business since from before its IPO and have together overseen a successful period of organic and inorganic growth. Since the IPO in 2005, the Company has grown from a market capitalisation of £46m to approximately £120m today. The change in their roles has been planned and is a natural progression as the Group enters the next phase of its growth and development. Discussions are already underway with several suitable candidates to recruit a replacement Chief Financial Officer. In the meantime, the function will be covered by the existing senior finance team, where there is considerable strength in depth.

Timothy Holland Bosworth, who is currently serving as Interim Chairman, will return to being a Non-Executive Director when James Murray becomes Chairman.

Appointment of Deputy Chairman

Alternative Networks is pleased to announce today the appointment, with effect from today, of Mr Bernard Cragg, 58, as the Company's Deputy Chairman and Senior Independent Non-Executive Director. Mr Cragg has more than thirty years' commercial and City experience. A qualified accountant, he became financial controller of Carlton Communications and was appointed CFO in 1987. In this role, Mr Cragg oversaw Carlton's listing on NASDAQ, its $780m acquisition of Technicolor and its sale in 2001 for $2.1 billion. 

He joined the board of Arcadia in 1999 and became chairman of its audit committee, playing a key role in the group's subsequent sale to Sir Philip Green. In 2003, he became a non-executive director of Bank of Ireland UK Financial Services Limited (including Bristol & West Building Society), and in 2003 became chairman of business information company, Datamonitor plc. In 2005 Bernard was appointed chairman of the AIM-listed Windows-powered mobile device company i-mate plc until its de-listing in 2008.

He is currently a director of Mothercare plc where he is the senior independent director and chairman of the audit committee, a non-executive director of Workspace Group plc and non-executive director of Astro All Asia Networks Limited, Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad and Astro Overseas Limited. Bernard is also senior independent director of AIM listed media company, Progressive Digital Media plc.

Appointment of Non-Executive Director

Alternative Networks is also pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Quartermaine, 49, as a Non-Executive Director. Mark has more than 26 years' experience in the ICT industry in a variety of executive, sales and marketing roles. He joined IBM in 1984 and spent 16 years period in various roles including running the Point of Sale business for Europe and latterly to work in the US as the Worldwide Marketing Director for the Retail Division. Since leaving IBM in 2001 Mark has served as COO on the board of NSB Retail, and has held various roles at BT Global Services, including MD of Public Sector as well as the UK President. He has been CEO at Azzurri Communications and acted as a Non-Executive director at Prologic plc, which was successfully sold in 2012. He is currently VP UK & Ireland for Juniper Networks.

Commenting on the appointments, James Murray, Chief Executive of Alternative Networks, said:

"I am delighted to welcome Bernard to our Board as Deputy Chairman. He brings a huge amount of highly relevant commercial expertise to the table, which will be of enormous value to the Group. As we reach the next key stage of our development, it's more important than ever to have a Board composed of high calibre directors, whose collective experience can be applied towards achieving our growth objectives. I look forward to working with Bernard and am certain our association will be a rewarding one."

"In addition, I am very pleased that Mark has agreed to join Alternative Networks. He has a detailed understanding of our business and of our marketplace, which will be extremely useful for us. I look forward to sharing the benefits of his experience."

"Finally, I would like to express the Board's thanks to Tim Holland Bosworth for his excellent service as interim Chairman this year."

Save as detailed above, there is nothing further to disclose in relation to the appointments of Bernard Cragg and Mark Quartermaine under Schedule Two, paragraph (g) of the AIM rules.

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