Auto Trader Group plc ("Auto Trader"
or the "Company")
22 March 2024
Appointment of Independent
Non-Executive Directors
Auto Trader, the UK's largest
automotive marketplace, is pleased to announce the appointments of
two Independent Non-Executive Directors to the Board. Geeta Gopalan
and Amanda James will join the Board with effect from 1 May 2024
and 1 July 2024, respectively. Geeta and Amanda will also join the
Audit, Remuneration, Corporate Responsibility and Nomination
Committees.
With effect from the conclusion of the
2024 AGM on 19 September 2024, Geeta will be appointed as Senior
Independent Director and Remuneration Committee Chair, and Amanda
will be appointed as Audit Committee Chair, subject to shareholder
approval. These appointments are part of
the Board's long-term succession planning
given David Keens and Jill
Easterbrook will come to the end of their
third three-year terms in 2024, and therefore will not stand for re-election at the 2024
AGM.
Geeta currently serves as a
Non-Executive Director of Funding Circle plc, Intrum S.A., and as a
Trustee of The Old Vic Theatre. She is also a Non-Executive
Director of Virgin Money UK PLC, and will step down from this role
on 30 June 2024 at the end of her term. She has been appointed as
Non-Executive Director at NatWest Group plc effective 1July 2024.
She previously served as a Non-Executive Director of Dechra
Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Ultra Electronics Plc, Wizink Bank SA, and
Vocalink. She has over 25 years of
experience in financial services and retail banking, particularly
payments and digital innovation.
Amanda is currently the Chief
Financial Officer of NEXT Plc, one of the UK's largest FTSE 100
fashion, footwear, and home retailers. Amanda brings not
only deep expertise in finance but also strong consumer, retail,
and multi-channel experience. Amanda has already announced her
intention to retire from NEXT at the end of September 2024, and
will step down from the NEXT Board with effect from 26 July
2024. Amanda has also been appointed as a Non-Executive
Director and Audit Committee member of British Land Company plc
with effect from 1 July 2024.
Upon Geeta and Amanda's appointment,
the Board will comprise seven Independent Non-Executive Directors,
three Executive Directors and a Non-Executive Chair.
Following the AGM, the number of Independent
Non-Executive Directors will reduce to five, and our Board will
meet the targets set out in LR 9.8.6(9)(a), with 67% women on the
Board; the role of Senior Independent Director being held by a
woman; and two directors being from a minority ethnic
background.
Commenting on the appointments, Matt
Davies, Chair of Auto Trader, said:
"I am delighted to welcome both Geeta
and Amanda to the Board. Between them they have a vast amount of
valuable experience across the worlds of digital innovation,
finance, consumer and retail, and we look forward very much to
benefitting from their expertise. They are joining Auto Trader at
an exciting time, as we continue to make great strides in our
strategy to bring more of the car buying journey
online."
"I would also like to thank David and
Jill for the enormous contributions that they have made to Auto
Trader in their time on the Board. We wish them all the very best
for the future."
There are no further disclosures
required in respect of this appointment under paragraph 9.6.13 of
the Listing Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority.
Enquiries:
About Auto Trader
Auto Trader Group plc is the UK's
largest automotive marketplace. It listed on the London Stock
Exchange in March 2015 and is a member of the FTSE 100
Index.
Auto Trader's purpose is Driving
Change Together. Responsibly. Auto Trader is committed to creating
a diverse and inclusive culture, to build stronger partnerships
with customers and use its voice and influence to drive more
environmentally friendly vehicle choices.
With the largest number of car buyers
and the largest choice of trusted stock, Auto Trader's marketplace
sits at the heart of the UK car buying process. That marketplace is
built on an industry-leading technology and data platform, which is
increasingly used across the automotive industry. Auto Trader is
continuing to bring more of the car buying journey online, creating
an improved buying experience, whilst enabling all its retailer
partners to sell vehicles online.
Auto Trader publishes a monthly used
car Retail Price Index which is based on pricing analysis of circa
800,000 unique vehicles. This data is used by the Bank of England
to feed the broader UK economic indicators.
For more information, please
visit:
https://plc.autotrader.co.uk/