23rd May 2006 14:13
Imperial Tobacco Group PLC23 May 2006 Imperial Tobacco Group PLC Board Update Imperial Tobacco Group today announces that, as part of the planned and orderlysuccession at senior Board level, its Non-Executive Chairman, Derek Bonham, willretire from the Board by spring 2007. He will be succeeded by Iain Napier,currently Joint Vice Chairman and Senior Independent Director of ImperialTobacco Group and Group Chief Executive of Taylor Woodrow plc. Until such timeas Mr Napier assumes the role of Non-Executive Chairman he will continue in hisrole as Joint Vice Chairman and Senior Independent Director of Imperial TobaccoGroup. On behalf of the Nominations Committee, Anthony Alexander, Joint Vice Chairman,said: "Iain's international and FMCG experience has been a great asset to the Groupsince he became a Non-Executive Director six years ago and I am delighted thathe has agreed to become our Chairman. "I would also like to thank Derek for his tremendous leadership and guidancesince our listing as an independent company in 1996. "Under Derek's Chairmanship Imperial Tobacco Group has been transformed from apredominantly UK business into the world's fourth largest international tobaccocompany, with sales in over 130 countries worldwide. During this period theCompany's strategy has been, and remains, to create sustainable shareholdervalue by growing its operations both organically and through acquisitions. Thesuccessful application of this strategy has increased the value of £100 investedin Imperial Tobacco Group between 1 October 1996 and 31 March 2006 to £726, oversix times the total shareholder return of the FTSE All-Share Index. " Imperial Tobacco Group also announces that it has been informed that Mr Napierwill cease to be a director of Taylor Woodrow plc by spring 2007. There are noother changes to the information already disclosed in respect of Mr Napier underthe provisions of LR 9.6.13 R. Enquiries: Nicola Tate Investor Relations Manager 0117 933 7082John Nelson-Smith Investor Relations Manager 0117 933 7032Alex Parsons Group Media Relations Manager 0117 933 7241Simon Evans Group Media Relations Executive 0117 933 7375 Copies of our announcements are available on our website:www.imperial-tobacco.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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