– UK, Basingstoke – Genus plc (LON: GNS), a leading global animal genetics company, today announced the appointment of Iain Ferguson to its Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director effective from 1 July 2020. He will succeed Bob Lawson as Chairman of the Company at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting in November 2020.
“For over a decade, Bob Lawson has led the successful transformation of Genus to become a world leader in the provision of elite bovine and porcine genetics and related services. I am delighted that Iain has agreed to join Genus and transition into the Chairman role. I believe that Iain brings the right mix of Board experience, international exposure and business skills to maintain the continued growth of the Company and its seamless execution on strategy. The transition period prior to the AGM will enable Iain to gain a strong understanding of the Company’s business before becoming the Chairman in November.” said Lesley Knox, the Company’s Senior Independent Director.
Board Chairman, Bob Lawson said “Genus is an outstanding company and one that I have been extremely proud to have worked for. I look forward to assisting Iain in understanding the Company’s operations and wish him every success as he sets out to lead Genus through the next stage of our growth.”
Iain has been appointed as a member of the Nominations and Remuneration Committees and will become Chair of the Nominations Committee upon Bob Lawson’s retirement.
About Iain Ferguson
Iain brings extensive Board and governance experience relevant to Genus, as well as strong commercial, science and agribusiness expertise across a range of industries, with a particular focus on consumer goods and food. Iain is currently Chairman of Crest Nicholson Holdings plc and a Non-Executive Director of Personal Assets Trust plc and was previously the Senior Independent Director of the animal genetics company Sygen International plc until 2006 when it was acquired by Genus. He was Chairman of Stobart Group Ltd and Senior Independent Director of Balfour Beatty plc until 2019 and Chairman of Berendsen plc until 2017.
Iain joined Unilever plc, one of the world’s largest Consumer Goods Groups, in 1977 and built his career in a variety of roles including General Manager, Unilever AgriBusiness, Executive Chair, Unilever Plantations and Plant Sciences Group, and Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, before joining Tate & Lyle plc as Chief Executive in 2003.
Iain Ferguson commented, “I am delighted to have been appointed as a Director and Chairman-designate of Genus. I look forward to working with the Chairman, Bob Lawson, the Board, the executive committee and the rest of the Genus team on the opportunities ahead for this great Company.”
About Genus
Genus is a world-leading animal genetics company. Genus creates advances to animal breeding and genetic improvement by applying biotechnology and sells added value products for livestock farming and food producers. Its technology is applicable across livestock species and is currently commercialised by Genus in the dairy, beef and pork food production sectors.
Genus’s worldwide sales are made in over seventy-five countries under the trademarks ‘ABS’ (dairy and beef cattle) and ‘PIC’ and comprise semen, embryos and breeding animals with superior genetics to those animals currently in farms. Genus’s customers’ animals produce offspring with greater production efficiency, and quality, and use these to supply the global dairy and meat supply chains.
The Group’s competitive edge has been created from the ownership and control of proprietary lines of breeding animals, the biotechnology used to improve them and its global supply chain, technical service and sales and distribution network.
With headquarters in Basingstoke, United Kingdom, Genus companies operate in over twenty-five countries on six continents, with research laboratories located in Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
For more information: http://www.genusplc.com
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