6 October 2021

Card Factory plc

('Card Factory' or 'the Company')

Board Changes

Card Factory is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert McWilliam as independent Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 November 2021.  Rob will be appointed as a member of each of the Company's Audit and Risk Committee, Nomination Committee and Remuneration Committee from his appointment and will assume the role as Chair of the Company's Audit and Risk Committee with effect from 30 November 2021, succeeding David Stead who has indicated his intention to step down from the Company's board on 30 November 2021.

Rob was Chief Financial Officer of Asda from 2018 and 2021; and between 1997 and 2012, held a number of senior roles within the Asda group including Commercial Finance & Strategy Director and Business Change Director.  In between his two periods with Asda, Rob was Vice President, UK, Finance Director and then Vice President of Consumables at Amazon UK.

Rob is currently Non-Executive Director and Trustee of Jisc, and Non-Executive Director of Venture Simulations Limited.  Rob was Independent Director of YPO (from 2017 to September 2021) and was previously a Non-Executive Director of Ten Entertainment Group plc where he was also the Chairman of the Risk and Audit Committee.  

Rob is considered to meet the requirements to be classified as an independent director under the UK Corporate Governance Code.

Paul Moody, Chairman, commented:

"Firstly, I would like to express my thanks and personal appreciation to David Stead, who has given unwavering service and, always, insightful and valuable counsel to the Board, the senior leadership team and the wider Card Factory business, since joining the board just prior to the IPO of the Company in 2014.  All of his colleagues sincerely thank him for his contribution to the business and wish him continued success in his non-executive career.

"We are delighted to welcome Rob to Card Factory.  Rob brings extensive retail and digital business experience, which is aligned with Card Factory's strategic priorities, which were recently shared with market.  Rob will bring a depth and breadth of knowledge and commercial insight that will add capability and capacity to the board. Additionally, Rob's financial expertise ensures that he has the relevant credentials to be appointed as Chair the Audit and Risk Committee, to succeed  David in this critically important role."

Robert does not currently hold any Card Factory shares and there are no further details required to be disclosed under LR 9.6.13 R of the UK Listing Authority's Listing Rules.