22nd Dec 2009 07:00
22 December 2009
SDL PLC ANNOUNCES BOARD CHANGES
SDL plc, the leader in the emerging market for Global Information Management ("GIM") solutions, today announces the following changes to the Board. These changes have been carefully planned and are the result of an extensive search by the Nomination Committee to strengthen Independent Director representation on the SDL plc Board as the business continues to grow and develop its global operations.
Independent Director Changes
Chris Batterham will retire from the role of Senior Independent Director. Given his breadth of experience and invaluable insights into the global technology industry, the Board is delighted that Mr. Batterham has agreed to remain a Non-Executive Director of SDL plc.
John Matthews will assume the role of Senior Independent Director. Mr. Matthews has been an Independent Director of SDL since June 2001. He will play a critical transitional role in supporting the Chairman and Chief Executive, Mark Lancaster, to ensure the effective operation of the new Board. Mr Matthews is a chartered accountant, having previously spent many years in the city, most recently as managing director of Country Nat West. Mr Matthews continues to hold a number of Non Executive board positions in public companies.
David Clayton will join SDL plc as an Independent Director. Mr. Clayton is currently Group Strategy & Mergers and Acquisitions Director for The Sage Group plc ("Sage"). After a career in senior executive roles at a number of international technology companies, he joined BZW in 1995 where, after its merger with CSFB in 1997, he was Managing Director and Head of European Technology Research until 2004. He joined the Sage Board in June 2004 as a Non -Executive Director before taking up his current executive role in October 2007.
Jane Thompson will join SDL plc as an Independent Director. Ms. Thompson is co-founder of Hayfield Group, a market-leading executive coaching business, specialising in working with senior executives primarily in FTSE 100 companies. Her coaching work is mainly in the Financial, Media, Telecom, Oil and Retail sectors. Prior to establishing Hayfield Group, Ms. Thompson spent more than 15 years in the City, using her fluency in German and French to advise leading European financial institutions on investment strategy and economics.
Other than the information contained in this announcement, there are no other matters relating Mr. Clayton or Ms. Thompson to be disclosed under paragraph 9.6.13R of the Listing Rules.
Executive Director Changes
As previously indicated, Mr. Alastair Gordon will step down from the SDL plc Board prior to the next AGM. Mr. Gordon will continue to support the Chief Executive in project roles on a part time basis and will continue to chair the SDL Foundation, which looks to support charitable causes on a global basis with an investment emphasis of sustainability.
Mr. Keith Mills will also step down from the SDL plc Board with effect from 30th December 2009 to focus exclusively on operational matters. Mr. Mills will move into a more operationally focused role, being promoted to a Group position of Global Information Management ("GIM") Solutions Architect and will continue to report to Mark Lancaster. In this pivotal role, Mr. Mill's primary responsibilities will include the strategic development of GIM solutions at key global accounts that enhance user efficiency and the client experience of SDL's world leading suite of language technologies.
The Board would like to acknowledge the excellent contribution made by Mr. Gordon and Mr. Mills to Board matters and is delighted that they will continue to play significant roles in the business in the future.
Commenting on the changes Mark Lancaster Chairman and CEO said, "We are delighted that David and Jane have agreed to join the SDL Board at this time. Their collective skill set and experience of global markets, strategic business development and organizational and human resource matters will bring valuable perspective to the SDL plc Board. It is also particularly pleasing that Chris Batterham has agreed to remain a Board member of SDL plc. These changes strengthen the independent construct of the Board of Directors and also provide a high degree of stability and continuity for our shareholders."
Contact Information
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SDL plc |
Tel: 01628 410 127 |
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Mark Lancaster, Chief Executive |
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John Hunter, Chief Financial Officer |
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Financial Dynamics |
Tel: 020 7831 3113 |
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Juliet Clarke/Haya Herbert-Burns/Emma Appleton |
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