Adnams plc
Chairman
Announcement
The Directors of Adnams plc ("the
Company"), the Suffolk-based premium beer, spirits and hospitality
group, hereby announce that Chairman Jonathan Adnams has stepped
down as Chairman with immediate effect due to health
reasons.
At the Company's last AGM, Jonathan
informed members he was considering possibly retiring before the
Company's 2025 AGM.
The Board unanimously agreed Simon
Townsend, will step in on an interim basis, as Non-Executive
Chairman. Simon is already a Non-Executive Director of the
Company and Chair of the Remuneration Committee.
Joining Adnams in 1975, Jonathan
began his career in brewery engineering before joining the Board in
1988. Appointed Managing Director in 1997 and Chairman in 2006, he
has been instrumental in driving the Company forward in terms of
innovation and sustainability, including its investment in
energy-efficient brewing equipment and its world-class distillery.
Jonathan was awarded an OBE in 2008 for his commitment
to corporate social responsibility.
Simon, who joined the Adnams Board
in January 2023, is also Chairman of Wadworth & Co,
a Non-Executive Director of JW Lees & Co, a
Non-Executive Director of Cote Restaurants and a Senior Advisor at
global consultancy Teneo. He is also a member of the advisory board
of diversity and inclusion organisation WiHTL. Previously, he has
served as a Non-Executive Director of FTSE-listed housebuilder
Countryside Properties plc.
The Company said that Jonathan,
whose family remains a significant shareholder, would continue to
support the Company until next year's AGM.
Commenting on the move, Jonathan
Adnams said: "I'm saddened to be stepping down from the Board
earlier than planned but will of course continue to champion the
business from the sidelines.
"Adnams has always been a lot more
than just a name to me. The success of the Company has been one of
the biggest priorities in my life for almost half a century and I'm
immensely proud of its achievements. I'm also reassured that the
principles on which we built the business - integrity, charity,
innovation - are as present today as they ever were. That, as ever,
is testament to its people.
"I am very pleased to see Simon step
into the role of Chairman of the Board on an interim basis. He has
the expertise and experience to guide Adnams through its current
transition and help secure a long-term financial solution to
underpin its growth ambitions."
Simon Townsend, Interim Chairman of
Adnams, said: "The Adnams family, business and community owes a
debt of gratitude to Jonathan for the contribution he's made over a
50-year career. His personal commitment to innovation - in our
products through to our brewing and distilling capabilities - has
been instrumental in building the foundations we continue to
benefit from today. Not only that, but - as a leader - he has
embodied the principles and values to such an extent that they flow
through every aspect of our business today.
"I'm excited about the opportunities
we now face and remain fully committed to securing the long-term
financial solution we need to support our growth."
ENDS
Enquiries:
For further information please
contact info@adnams.co.uk