Directorate Change (3174Z)

TIDMOPE

RNS Number : 3174Z

Optare PLC

14 March 2012

Optare plc

("Optare" or the "Company")

Board Changes

Optare announces the following appointments as non-executive Directors of the Company with effect from 9(th) March 2012:

Kesavan Sridharan;

Anuj Kathuria; and

Per Gustav Nilsson;

Kesavan Sridharan (known as "KS"), 58, an Indian citizen, has been with Ashok Leyland for close to three decades. Mr Sridharan is a B Com graduate, cost accountant and an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

He heads the finance function of Ashok Leyland, is a Director of Hinduja National Power Corporation Ltd and is on the board of several Group/joint venture companies.

He actively participates in industry forums and currently is a member of the Southern Regional Council of CII.

Anuj Kathuria, 44, an Indian citizen is an Engineering Graduate from BITS and an MBA from XLRI, Jamshedpur. Mr Kathuria brings a wealth of experience across multiple functions including manufacturing, sourcing, mergers and acquisitions and program management. He also undertook a two year overseas assignment as head of global sourcing.

Having been with Ashok Leyland since 2010, he heads Strategic Sourcing and Supply Chain and is responsible for all supply chain activities.

Per Gustav Nilsson, (known as "PG"), 57, a Swedish citizen holds degrees in Business Administration, Political Sciences and Social Sciences. He brings with him rich global experience and market knowledge having handled international assignments with leading commercial vehicle manufacturers.

He joined Ashok Leyland in 2010, after having spent more than seven years as Managing Director of Scania CIS, followed by four years as Managing Director of MAN Russia/Regional Director CIS. He is the former Chairman of Scania Leasing Russia, and was also Chairman of the Board of Scania Peter, Scania's bus factory in Russia.

Optare also announces that Mr R Seshasayee has stepped down from his role as Non-Executive Director for the company to concentrate on his responsibilities for Ashok Leyland and Hinduja Automotive. Chairman, John Fickling, expressed his thanks to Mr Seshasayee for his support since he had joined the Board.

Further, and in accordance with Ashok Leyland/Hinduja Automotive policy not to have the CFO on the Board, Optare announces that Peter Phillips has relinquished his board position, but will continue in his function of CFO and Company Secretary for Optare.

Save as disclosed below there are no additional disclosures to be made in accordance with paragraph (g) of Schedule 2 of the AIM rules in relation to Kesavan Sridharan, Anuj Kathuria and Per Gustav Nilsson.

The companies of which Kesavan Sridharan is or has been a director of in the past five years are as follows:

Albonair (India) Pvt Limited*

Ashley Airways Limited (under Members' Voluntary Winding Up)

Ashley Bio-fuels Limited

Ashley Design and Engineering Services Limited*

Ashley Holdings Limited

Ashley Investments Limited

Ashley Transport Services Limited

Ashok Leyland Nissan Vehicles Ltd

Ashok Leyland Project Services Limited

Ashok Leyland UAE LLC

Ashok Leyland Wind Energy Limited

ATSL Solutions Private Limited*

Avia Ashok Leyland Motors Limited

Gulf Ashley Motors Limited

Hinduja National Power Corporation Limited

Lanka Ashok Leyland Limited

Mangalam Retail Services Limited

Nissan Ashok Leyland Technologies Ltd

AL Nigeria Ltd

AL Chile Ltd

The companies of which Anuj Kathuria is or has been a director in the past five years are as follows:

Automotive Coaches and Components Ltd

The companies of which Per Gustav Nilsson is or has been a director in the past five years are as follows:

MAN - Russia*

*past directorship

For further information please contact:

   Optare plc                                            Tel: [phone]  Jim Sumner - Chief Executive Officer 
   Cenkos Securities plc                               Tel: [phone]  Stephen Keys/Camilla Hume 

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

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