For Immediate Release

12 December 2023

Genus plc

("Genus" or the "Group")

Board Change: Non-Executive Director Appointment

Genus (LSE: GNS), a leading global animal genetics company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Ralph Heuser to the Board as a Non-Executive Director, with effect from 1 January 2024.  

Dr Heuser has had extensive experience in animal healthcare businesses globally, having worked at Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, where he launched a PRRS vaccine in Germany, Novartis's Consumer and Animal Health divisions and more recently in global leadership roles at Elanco Animal Health, including as Vice President for Asia Pacific, Europe and International Commercial Operations.  Dr Heuser has a PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of Bonn, Germany and is currently a Senior Advisor with Stonehaven Consulting (SC Group) AG.

Dr Heuser brings widespread global experience in operations, commercial excellence, integration and the animal health industry generally, and his appointment follows an extensive search process using an external search agency.

Commenting on the appointment, Iain Ferguson, Chair of Genus, said:

"We are delighted to welcome Ralph to the Board. Ralph brings invaluable experience and knowledge of commercial strategy and operations in agricultural and animal health businesses across many global markets, which will allow the Board to maintain this area of expertise following the recent retirement of Lykele Van Der Broek from our Board.  I would like to thank Lykele for his significant contributions to Genus over the last nine years and wish him every success for the future." 

For further information please contact:

Genus plc            Tel: +44 (0)1256 345 970

Iain Ferguson, Chair

Jorgen Kokke, Chief Executive Officer

Buchanan            Tel: +44 (0)207 466 5000

Charles Ryland; Sophie Wills; Toto Berger; Verity Parker

About Genus

Genus is a world-leading animal genetics company. Genus creates advances to animal breeding and genetic improvement by applying biotechnology and sells added value products for livestock farming and food producers. Its technology is applicable across livestock species and is currently commercialised by Genus in the dairy, beef and pork food production sectors.

Genus's worldwide sales are made in over seventy-five countries under the trademarks 'ABS' (dairy and beef cattle) and 'PIC' (pigs) and comprise semen, embryos and breeding animals with superior genetics to those animals currently in farms. Genus's customers' animals produce offspring with greater production efficiency, and quality, and use these to supply the global dairy and meat supply chains.

The Group's competitive edge has been created from the ownership and control of proprietary lines of breeding animals, the biotechnology used to improve them and its global supply chain, technical service and sales and distribution network.

With headquarters in Basingstoke, United Kingdom, Genus companies operate in over twenty-five countries on six continents, with research laboratories located in Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

Regulatory Notes

Details of any payments to be made to Ralph Heuser will be disclosed in full in the Company's 2024 Directors' Remuneration Report.  Any such terms will be consistent with the Company's approved Directors' Remuneration Policy.

This announcement is made in accordance with Listing Rule 9.6.11R.   There are no matters to be disclosed in connection with Listing Rule 9.6.13R (2) - (6). The person responsible for making this announcement on behalf of the Group is Dan Hartley (General Counsel and Company Secretary).