Ted Baker PLC Chief Executive Officer - Leave of Absence (8768J)

TIDMTED

RNS Number : 8768J

Ted Baker PLC

07 December 2018

7 December 2018

Ted Baker Plc

("Ted Baker" or the "Group")

Chief Executive Officer - Leave of Absence

On 3(rd) December 2018 Ted Baker plc (the "Company") announced that it had appointed an independent committee of Non-Executive Directors (the "Committee") to ensure that the views and concerns raised in recent media reports and a petition are recognised and carefully considered and that appropriate responses are taken forward.

The Committee subsequently appointed Herbert Smith Freehills LLP to conduct an independent external investigation into the reports received.

The Committee and the Board have now been made aware of further serious allegations about the conduct of founder and Chief Executive Officer Ray Kelvin, which it will also be investigating.

Ray Kelvin has agreed, for the benefit of the business and the people who work in it, that he will take a voluntary leave of absence from his role with the Company while these allegations are investigated. The Board has appointed Chief Operating Officer Lindsay Page as acting CEO with immediate effect while Ray Kelvin remains on leave.

The Company will not make any further comment about the nature of the allegations that have been made while they remain under investigation.

Further announcements will be made in due course as appropriate.

David Bernstein, Non-Executive Chairman, commented:

"As previously stated, the Board has moved quickly to appoint Herbert Smith Freehills LLP to conduct a thorough and independent external investigation into recent reports regarding the company and its CEO.

"Ted Baker has great people across its global teams as well as a highly experienced operational Board underpinned by the strength and experience of our teams, I am confident that the business remains in a strong position to continue to deliver its long-term growth strategy."

This announcement contains inside information.

 
 Ted Baker                                 Tel: +44 (0) 20 
                                                 7255 4800 
 David Bernstein, Non-Executive Chairman 
  Lindsay Page, Acting CEO 
 
 Hudson Sandler                            Tel: +44 (0) 20 
                                                 7796 4133 
 Alex Brennan / Hattie O'Reilly / Nick 
  Moore 
 

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements

This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include matters that are not historical facts or are statements regarding the Group's intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, the Group's results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies, and the industries in which the Group operates.

Forward-looking statements are based on the information available to the Directors at the time of preparation of this announcement, and will not be updated during the year. The Directors can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct. Due to inherent uncertainties, including both economic and business risk factors underlying such forward looking information, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [e-mail] or visit www.rns.com.

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 07, 2018 11:27 ET (16:27 GMT)