Succession Planning and Board Changes

RNS

15 April 2014

Micro Focus International plc

Succession Planning and Board Changes

On 14 April 2011 the Board appointed Kevin Loosemore to the role of Executive Chairman at Micro Focus International plc ("Micro Focus" or "the Group"). Whilst this is contrary to the Combined Code the Board has explained the reasons for having the role and believe that the Group's performance over the past three years has vindicated this decision.

The Board now plans to conduct an orderly succession to separate the roles of Chairman and CEO over the coming 12 - 24 months. This will include the evaluation of internal and external candidates for the role of CEO whilst at all times aiming to ensure appropriate continuity and continued focus on performance.

Joining Kevin Loosemore and Mike Phillips as Executive Directors, the Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen Murdoch as Chief Operating Officer of Micro Focus with effect from 16 April 2014. Stephen is currently General Manager of Product Management, Marketing and Development at Micro Focus having joined the Company from Dell Corporation in November 2012. Stephen has more than 20 years' experience in the IT industry, having held senior general management positions with Dell Corporation and IBM.

David Maloney, Deputy Chairman, Senior Independent Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee, will retire from the Board at the AGM in September having served for nine years. The Board would like to thank Mr Maloney for the outstanding service he has given to Micro Focus commencing a few weeks before IPO in 2005.

At the AGM Karen Slatford, who joined the Board in July 2010, will assume the role of Senior Independent Director.

The Board has conducted an external search for a new Chairman of the Audit Committee and today announces the appointment of Richard Atkins as a Non-Executive Director with effect from 16 April 2014. He will become Chairman of the Audit Committee with effect from the signing of the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30 April 2014.

Richard is currently a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Risk and Compliance Committee of Aon UK Limited and Chairman of Acora, Entanet International, Sub 10 Systems and Miles 33. He was a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Morse plc from December 2008 until June 2010. He was a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Global Crossing (UK) Telecommunications Ltd and Global Crossing (UK) Finance plc from June 2005 until September 2011. He was Non-Executive Chairman of TripleArc plc from February 2006 to May 2008.

He has spent the majority of his career within the IT industry, most recently at IBM Global Services, where he held a number of senior general management positions. In 1991 as Finance Director he led the MBO of Data Sciences Ltd from Thorn EMI plc before managing its acquisition by IBM in 1996. Richard qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young.

Stephen Murdoch and Richard Atkins have confirmed that, save as set out in this announcement, there are no further disclosures to be made under Listing Rule 9.6.13.

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About Micro Focus

Micro Focus, the international software product group and a member of the FTSE 250, provides innovative software that helps companies to improve dramatically the business value of their enterprise applications. Micro Focus Enterprise Application Modernization, Testing and Management software enables customers' business applications to respond rapidly to market changes and embrace modern architectures with reduced cost and risk. For additional information please visit www.microfocus.com