12th Jan 2006 07:01
HMV Group PLC12 January 2006 12 January 2006 HMV Group plc Board Changes HMV Group plc today announces the appointment of Carl Symon as non-executiveChairman, with effect from 1 February 2006. He will succeed David Kappler, whowill remain a non-executive director on the Group's board after serving asChairman for an interim period. The Group is also announcing today that Alan Giles, Chief Executive Officer,will retire from the company in December 2006 to develop a portfolio ofnon-executive roles. David Kappler, Chairman, said: "On behalf of the Group board I am delighted to welcome Carl Symon as our newnon-executive Chairman. With his extensive senior level expertise, highlydeveloped international experience and a deep understanding of new technologies,Carl ideally complements the existing Board members and we very much lookforward to working with him. "We are sad to announce that Alan Giles will be retiring as Chief ExecutiveOfficer after eight successful years at the helm of HMV Group. Under hisstewardship HMV has grown into a world-class international speciality retailerwith sales of almost £2 billion across 580 stores. He has built a strong seniorteam and I am confident that the transition to a new Chief Executive will be aseamless one." Carl Symon commented: "I am delighted to be joining a Group which has the strong brands and highlydeveloped operating skills to be well positioned to adapt successfully to thelonger term strategic challenges and opportunities in its markets. I am lookingforward to working with the experienced executive and non-executive team todeliver this." Alan Giles commented: "I am indebted to the extraordinary people who work in this Group, without whomthis Group could not have delivered the track record of growth since it wasformed eight years ago. I will miss the excitement and camaraderie of workingwith such a talented team, but after more than 30 years in retailing I feel itis time to move on to the next stage of my career. However, there is still agreat deal to be achieved, and I am looking forward to working with Carl and therest of the team over the next 12 months." Carl Symon is currently a director of BT plc, Rolls Royce Group plc and Rexamplc, but apart from these directorships there is no other information todisclosure in respect of Listing Rule 9.6.13R. Ends Notes to Editors: About Carl SymonCarl Symon retired from IBM in May 2001 after a 32-year career, during which heheld senior executive positions in the USA, Canada, Latin America, Asia andEurope, including Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IBM UK. He is Chairmanof a number of private companies, and a non-executive director of BT,Rolls-Royce and Rexam. He is 59 and a US national. About Alan GilesAlan Giles was appointed to the HMV Group Board as Chief Executive in March1998. He led the Group following its 1998 leveraged buy-out to its flotation onthe London Stock Exchange in May 2002. From 1993 to 1999 he was ManagingDirector of Waterstone's, having joined WH Smith plc in 1982 and being appointedto their Group board in November 1995. He is a Non-Executive Director of WilsonBowden plc. He is 51. Enquiries HMV Group Alan Giles Group Chief Executive 01628 818355 * Neil Bright Group Finance Director 01628 818355 * Paul Barker Head of Corporate Communications 01628 818355 *Brunswick Susan Gilchrist / William Cullum / Eilis Murphy 020 7404 5959 * All enquiries on 12 January should be directed via Brunswick. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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