Porta Communications PLC Directorate Change (1459L)

TIDMPTCM

RNS Number : 1459L

Porta Communications PLC

29 September 2016

29 September 2016

Porta Communications Plc

("Porta" or "the Company")

Directorate changes

Porta Communications Plc, the AIM quoted international communications and marketing group, is pleased to announce that John Foley has today joined the board as a Non-Executive Director.

The Company announces that Brian Blasdale will be stepping down from the board with effect from 30 November 2016.

Commenting, David Wright, Chief Executive of Porta said:

"We thank Brian for his valued contribution to the Company in his time as a director and wish him well for the future."

"We welcome John to the board. John brings a wealth of board experience having over 27 years of continuous involvement on various public company boards as either Chairman, CEO, CFO or Non-Executive Director."

Further information on John Foley

John is a co-founder and Chairman of AIM quoted niche services provider, Premier Technical Services Group Plc. John is also Chairman of Servoca Plc, the AIM quoted staffing solutions and outsourcing provider. He was previously Chief Executive of MacLellan Group plc ("MacLellan"), a facilities services company, from 1994 until it was acquired by Interserve plc for an enterprise value of GBP130 million in June 2006. At the time of John's appointment, MacLellan was loss making, with a turnover of circa GBP5 million and 50 employees. When it was sold to Interserve, MacLellan had a turnover of circa GBP250 million and a profit before tax of circa GBP9 million, with 13,500 employees. MacLellan grew through a series of acquisitions and organic growth. John is a Chartered Accountant and barrister.

John holds a beneficial interest in 965,079 ordinary shares of 1 pence each in the capital of Porta, representing 0.3 per cent. of the entire issued share capital.

John Robert Foley, aged 60, is, or has been, a director or partner of the following companies or partnerships during the past five years:

 
 
   Current directorships         Past directorships and 
   and partnerships              partnerships 
 Premier Technical Services    Twenty20 Media Vision 
  Group Plc                     Limited 
 Servoca Plc                   Monex Europe Limited 
 Penta Consulting Holdings     Hat Pin Plc 
  Limited 
 Guardian Cradle Maintenance 
  Ltd 
 Ensco 835 Limited 
 PTSG Steeplejacks Limited 
 PTSG Steeplejacking Limited 
 Coomspeck Limited 
 Penta NC1 Limited 
 PTSG Access and Safety 
  Limited 
 Penta Consulting Limited 
 Penta Ultimate Holdings 
  Limited 
 

On 13 May 2008, Hat Pin Plc, of which John Foley was a director, was placed into administration. Hat Pin Plc was subsequently placed into creditor's voluntary liquidation on 6 May 2009. The liquidation is now complete and Hat Pin Plc was dissolved on 27 February 2015.

On 24 August 2003, John Foley resigned as a director of Elequip Holdings Limited. On 10 October 2003, Elequip Holdings Limited was placed into administrative receivership with an estimated deficit as regards creditors of approximately GBP3.5 million. The underlying trade and assets of the Elequip Holdings Limited group were sold by the administrative receiver and the company was dissolved on 2 December 2008.

There is no further information required to be disclosed in respect of the above appointment pursuant to Schedule 2 (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies.

- ends -

Enquiries

 
 
 
                                                 David Wright, Chief Executive 
  Porta Communications Plc                       Gene Golembiewski, Finance Director     [phone] 
                                            Philip Secrett 
                                             Samantha Harrison 
Grant Thornton UK LLP (Nominated Adviser)    Daniel Bush                               [phone] 
 
  N+1 Singer                                  James Maxwell 
  (Broker)                                    Lauren Kettle                              [phone] 
 
  Redleaf PR                                  Charlie Geller 
  (Media Enquiries)                           Sam Modlin                                 [phone] 
 

Notes to Editors:

Porta has two divisions:

-- Communications - financial, corporate and consumer public relations, public affairs and research;

   --       Marketing & Advertising - multi-capability marketing, brand and creative communications. 

The Group has offices in Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Brisbane, Bristol, Canberra, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Hong Kong, London, Manchester, Melbourne, Singapore and Sydney.

The brands and companies it owns are: Newgate Communications, PPS Group, Redleaf Communications, Publicasity, 13 Communications, Newgate Sponsorship, 2112 Communications and Summit Marketing Services.

Porta Communications' corporate website is - www.portacomms.com

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

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September 29, 2016 02:01 ET (06:01 GMT)