– UK, Abingdon – RPS Group PLC (LSE:RPS), announces that Dr Alan Hearne will retire from his role as Chief Executive of RPS shortly after the publication of the Group’s half year results in August and that he will step down from the Board on 31 August 2017. John Douglas will be joining RPS and its Board on 1 June 2017 and following a period of transition will become Chief Executive on Alan’s retirement from the role. Following his retirement Alan will be available to provide consulting advice to the Board until August 2018.
Alan joined RPS in 1978 becoming a director in 1979. He was appointed as Chief Executive in 1981 and was instrumental in successfully developing RPS into a highly respected international consultancy in the built and natural environment markets. RPS currently employs over 5,000 people in diverse locations throughout the world. Through a combination of organic growth and an acquisition strategy Alan led the development of a strongly profitable and cash generative group. During this time, RPS Group’s revenue has grown from £1 million at time of IPO in 1987, to almost £600m in 2016.
John Douglas has had a career in strategic and operational management on an international scale. Most recently, John was Chief Executive of Coffey International Limited, an Australian listed business operating in similar markets to RPS, until its successful sale to Tetra Tech Inc. in February 2016. Prior to joining Coffey in 2011, John spent 15 years with Boral, the international building materials group, latterly as Divisional Managing Director in Australia. John was previously a consultant with Boston Consulting Group. In his early career, he worked for engineering companies in Australia and the UK. John is a civil engineer from Adelaide University and has an MBA from London Business School. He will be based in the UK.
Ken Lever, Group Chairman said: “Over the years, Alan has contributed enormously to the development of RPS and the creation of value for shareholders and his presence in the business will be greatly missed. We wish him well in his retirement.
I am delighted to welcome John Douglas to the Group. John’s background is highly complementary to RPS’s business operations and the Board is confident that he will provide the future direction for RPS in its next stage of growth and development.”
RPS is an international consultancy providing advice upon the development and management of the built and natural environment; the planning and development of strategic infrastructure, and the evaluation and development of energy, water and other resources. We have offices in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, the United States, Canada and Australia Asia Pacific and undertake projects in many other parts of the world.
For more information : http://www.rpsgroup.com
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