W.H. Ireland Group PLC Directorate Changes and Trading Update (1703P)

TIDMWHI

RNS Number : 1703P

W.H. Ireland Group PLC

06 February 2019

WH Ireland Group Plc

("WH Ireland" or the "Company")

Directorate Changes and Trading Update

WH Ireland today announces two directorate changes and a trading update for the period since its half year ended 30 September 2018.

Appointment of Finance Director

WH Ireland confirms that, subject only to FCA approval, Philip Tansey, will be appointed as Finance Director of the Company and will join the Board. As previously announced, Philip joined WH Ireland as Head of Finance in December. This appointment and that of the new Head of Wealth Management, Stephen Ford, reflect our new CEO Phillip Wale's intention of putting in place a leadership team to position WH Ireland for future growth.

Between 2011 and 2017, Philip Tansey, a Chartered Accountant, was Chief Financial Officer of Panmure Gordon and before that, from 2008, was Managing Director of the NASDAQ quoted US inter-dealer Broker, BGC Partners Inc. During his career he has also worked at Deutsche Bank, CSFB, CIBC Wood Grundy, Salomon Brothers and BDO Stoy Hayward.

Further announcements will be made as appropriate.

Non-Executive Director stepping down

The Board also announce the intention of Jonathan Carey to step down from his role as a Non-Executive Director of the Board. Jonathan, who has been a board member since 2016, has indicated he will step down when a suitable replacement can be found, and in any event no earlier than 31 March 2019. Further updates will be provided as appropriate.

Trading Update

The Board also makes the following trading update. As has already been reported by a number of our peers, market conditions continue to be challenging, affecting both divisions of the Company. In addition, exceptional costs for the financial year ended 31 March 2019 are anticipated to be higher than originally expected following a number of significant one off expenses as we continue with our transformation strategy. However, despite these challenges, the Company has a strong pipeline of new business and the Board remains optimistic for the future.

Commenting, Phillip Wale, CEO said, "We are delighted that Philip Tansey will be joining us as a Director of the Company, subject only to FCA approval. Philip brings a wealth of experience that will be valuable to WH Ireland as we continue on the path towards growth and profitability. At the same time, the Board thanks Jonathan Carey for his excellent contribution to the Company and wishes him well for the future."

For further information please contact:

 
 WH Ireland Group plc               www.whirelandplc.com 
 Phillip Wale, CEO                  [phone] 
 
 SPARK Advisory Partners Limited 
 Mark Brady/Miriam Greenwood        [phone]/3550 
 
 MHP Communications                 [phone] 
 Reg Hoare 
 

Appendix

Further information on Philip Tansey, FCA

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 Philip Tansey.

   Full name:          Philip Tansey 
   Age:                   60 years old 
 
  Current appointments       Past appointments (last five years) 
 Baby Break and Toddler      Durlacher Research Limited 
  Break Limited               Life Capital Limited 
 Tansey Associates Limited   Panmure General Partner Limited 
                              Panmure Gordon & Co. Limited 
                             Panmure Gordon (Broking) Limited 
   Amphion Innovations plc    Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited 
                              Panmure Gordon Securities Limited 
                              Primextend Limited 
                              Rotherfield Nominees Limited 
                              United Energy Limited 
                              United Energy Properties Limited 
                              Web-Angel Limited 
                              Web-Angel Services Limited 
                              Northland Capital Partners Limited 
                              To Health Limited 
 

Mr Tansey was a director of Alfresco Leisure Publications Plc ("Alfresco") and its subsidiaries, Premier Guides Limited ("Premier Guides") and Telfo Limited ("Telfo"), all of which were placed into administration in 1992. Alfresco Leisure Publications and Premier Guides were dissolved on 16 November 1999 and Telfo was dissolved on 7 December 1993. The administrators of Premier Guides showed a deficiency of GBP0.6 million (excluding amounts owed to Alfresco) as regards to unsecured creditors. The administrators of Telfo showed a deficiency to creditors of GBP0.7 million

Mr Tansey currently holds no beneficial interest in the ordinary share capital of the Company.

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.

END

MSCGMGGZNKVGLZM

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 06, 2019 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)