Directorate Change & Updated Notice of AGM

WH Ireland Group Plc

(“WH Ireland” or the “Company”)

Directorate Change – Update

Updated Notice of AGM

WH Ireland (AIM: WHI) today announces a directorate change update and new appointment and a revised notice of AGM.

Confirmation of Appointment of Simon Lough

Further to the announcement of 29 March 2019, the Company is pleased to announce that following the receipt of FCA approval, Simon Lough has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Company with immediate effect.  He will also serve on the Audit, Risk, Nomination and Remuneration Committees.

There are no further updates to the regulatory information set out in the announcement of 29 March 2019.

Appointment of Alistair Buchanan, as Non-Executive Director (elect)

WH Ireland is also pleased to announce the appointment of Alistair Buchanan as a Non-Executive Director (elect) of the Company, subject to FCA approval.  He will also serve on the Audit, Risk, Nomination and Remuneration Committees.

Alistair was formerly CEO of Ofgem, the UK’s gas and electricity markets’ regulator, for ten years and a partner at KPMG, where he was also UK Chairman of Power & Utilities.  He trained as a Chartered Accountant at KPMG before becoming an award-winning energy sector analyst and head of research for banks in London and New York.

Alistair is currently a NED at Thames Water  (where he Chairs the Strategy Committee and is a member of audit committee), and a NED at Electricity North West Limited (where he sits on Valuation committee). In the past he has served on the Boards of Durham University and ScottishWater, and also currently serves on the board of Royal Holloway College, University of London. He was awarded the CBE in 2008.

Alistair Buchanan commented: “I am excited to be joining WH Ireland at a time when its Executive team are setting out a new clearly defined strategy. I look forward in my role as NED to support both them and my other colleagues on the Board, to deliver that.”

Tim Steel, Non-Executive Chairman, commented:

“The Board welcomes Alistair to the Group, subject only to FCA approval. Alistair brings a wide range of experience which is highly complementary to WH Ireland’s activities, given his time as an analyst, auditor and regulator.

“Together with the recent appointments of Simon Lough, and Phil Shelley (subject to FCA approval), we have significantly refreshed and strengthened our Board with relevant and current experience of our two divisions. I believe that they will be highly supportive of our new executive management team, and will provide effective challenge as we restore WH Ireland to profitability and growth.”

The information required pursuant to the AIM Rules for this appointment is set out in the Appendix to this announcement.

Amended Notice of AGM

The Company also confirms today that it has posted to shareholders an updated notice of annual general meeting (“AGM”) and an updated form of proxy, now including a resolution to approve Simon Lough as a director of the Company, as required by the Company’s articles of association.

The details of the AGM remain unchanged, it is to be held at 2.00 p.m. on 12 September 2019 at the offices of WH Ireland, 24 Martin Lane, London, EC4R 0DR. Proxies and votes already received for the AGM are still valid, but shareholders who have already voted will still need to vote for the new resolution. A copy of the new notice of AGM is also available at the Company’s website

For further information please contact:          

Appendix

Further information in relation to Alistair Buchanan

Save for the information above and below, there are no further disclosures to be made in accordance with Rule 17, Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules for Companies in respect of the appointment.

Full name:          Alistair George Buchanan

Age:                     57 years old

Mr Buchanan currently holds the following directorships:

Electricity North West Limited

Thames Water Utilities Limited

TBF 5 Limited

Alistair Buchanan Limited

In the last five years, Mr Buchanan held the following directorships or partnerships:

KPMG LLP

KPMG Europe LLP

 Mr Buchanan does not have any interest in the share capital of the Company.