– UK, Hampshire – Serco Group plc, the international service company, announces that Sir Roy Gardner will be appointed Non-Executive Chairman with effect from 1 July 2015, joining the Board as Non-Executive Director from 1 June 2015 to enable a handover period with current Chairman, Alastair Lyons. Serco announced on 17 November 2014 that Alastair Lyons had informed the Board of his intention to step down once a new Chairman had been appointed, and he will therefore step down from the Board on 1 July 2015.
Sir Roy has had extensive experience leading and chairing large international service and contracting businesses, many of them providing services to, or regulated by, governments. Sir Roy was previously Group Chief Executive of Centrica plc from 1997 to 2006 and Chairman of Compass Group plc from 2006 to 2014. Earlier experience included senior management positions at British Gas plc, The General Electric Company plc, Marconi and British Aircraft Corporation; he also served as Chairman of Manchester United plc from 2002 until 2005, of Plymouth Argyle Football Club from 2009 to 2010, and of Connaught plc during 2010. His current board commitments are Non-Executive Chairman of Mainstream Renewable Power Limited, Senior Independent Director of William Hill plc and Non-Executive Director of Willis Group Holdings plc. He is a senior adviser to Credit Suisse Group AG and from 2006 to 2014 served as Chairman of the Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network, an employer-led body working closely with UK Government.
Mike Clasper, Senior Independent Director, said: “I am delighted that Sir Roy will be joining Serco and taking up the role as Non-Executive Chairman. He brings deep experience of leading boards, as well as proven skills in managing large multi-national organisations, a commitment to public service, and a track record of bringing appropriate challenge to the executive teams that he has worked with.”
Rupert Soames, Group Chief Executive Officer, added: “I am greatly looking forward to working with Sir Roy, whose broad experience in areas relevant to our business will be extremely valuable. I would also like to thank Alastair Lyons for all his hard work and support, particularly over the last 12 months, as we have developed a new direction for the Company and put it on a solid financial footing.”
Sir Roy Gardner commented: “Serco is a remarkable company, supporting governments around the world in the delivery of essential public services, and I look forward to working with the management team as they implement Serco’s new strategy.”
Sir Roy Gardner is Non-Executive Chairman of Mainstream Renewable Power Limited, Senior Independent Director of William Hill plc, Non-Executive Director of Willis Group Holdings plc, a Senior Adviser to Credit Suisse Group AG, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Energy Futures Lab of Imperial College London and a Trustee of the Development Trust (for the Mentally Handicapped). Sir Roy is a Director of Mastpoint Ltd, R.A.G. Associates Limited and Ayot Nominees Limited, and Adviser to Antin Infrastructure Partners. Sir Roy is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants, the Royal Aeronautical Society, the Royal Society of Arts and the City & Guilds of London Institute. He is also a Companion of the Institute of Management.
Sir Roy was formerly Chief Executive of Centrica plc, Chairman of Compass Group plc, Plymouth Argyle Football Company Limited, Manchester United plc, Connaught plc and EnServe Group Limited, and a Director of British Gas plc, GEC-Marconi Ltd, GEC plc and Laporte plc. He was also President of Carers UK, Chairman of the British Olympics Appeal Committee for the Beijing Games 2008 and the Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network.
Sir Roy was knighted in 2002 for services to the gas and electricity industries.
About Serco
Serco is an international service company, which combines commercial know-how with a deep public service ethos.
Around the world, we improve essential services by managing people, processes, technology and assets more effectively. We advise policy makers, design innovative solutions, integrate systems and – most of all – deliver to the public.
Serco supports governments, agencies and companies who seek a trusted partner with a solid track record of providing assured service excellence. Our people offer operational, management and consulting expertise in the aviation, BPO, defence, education, environmental services, facilities management, health, home affairs, information and communications technology, knowledge services, local government, science and nuclear, transport, welfare to work and the commercial sectors.
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