SSE plc

BOARD CHANGES

Appointment of New Non-Executive Director - John Bason

The Board of SSE plc is pleased to announce the appointment of John Bason as a non-Executive Director, effective 1 June 2022, following a comprehensive search and selection process. 

John brings a wealth of experience from a distinguished executive and non-executive career in global businesses, which will be invaluable to SSE as it continues to expand to new international markets.

He will join SSE's Audit Committee on appointment and, in due course, it is intended that he will succeed Peter Lynas as Audit Committee Chair, allowing for a smooth handover as Peter Lynas enters the ninth year of his time on SSE's Board in summer 2022. He will also join the Nomination Committee.

John served for more than a decade as a non-Executive Director on the Board of FTSE-100 company, Compass Group PLC, which operates in around 45 countries and where he chaired the Audit Committee for ten years. He is currently Chair of FareShare, the UK's network of charitable food redistributors and a non-Executive Director of Bloomsbury Publishing plc.

In his executive career, John has been Finance Director of Associated British Foods plc, the diversified international food, ingredients and retail group since 1999. The company employs 128,000 people and has operations in 53 countries across Europe, Asia, the Americas, Australia and Africa.

Each Director of SSE plc is subject to annual re-appointment and this new appointment to the Board from 1 June 2022, will be the subject of a resolution at SSE's Annual General Meeting 2022. Following this appointment, the Board of SSE plc will comprise the Chair, three Executive Directors and nine non-Executive Directors; and will comprise seven men and six women.

Looking ahead, the Board and Nomination Committee will continue to assess the Board's composition with a view to ensuring it has the experience and skillset required to deliver on SSE's significant growth potential in the transition to net zero, taking account of shareholder views.

Sir John Manzoni, Chair of SSE plc, said:

"After a comprehensive search, we are delighted to add someone of John's calibre and track record to the Board. His significant experience as a finance director in major global companies means he has both the commercial acumen and international perspective to provide constructive challenge and guidance as SSE delivers its Net Zero Acceleration Programme, building on its position as the UK's clean energy champion whilst bringing its low-carbon infrastructure capabilities to new geographies."

SSE confirms this announcement is made in accordance with LR9.6.11R(1) with no additional information required to be disclosed under the LR9.6.13R.

Planned changes to the Board

As part of the ongoing succession plan, Dame Sue Bruce, non-Executive Director, will step down from the Board on 31 March 2023. Dame Sue joined the Board in September 2013 and has played a key role in all aspects of the Board's activity and deliberations, including in the roles of Remuneration Committee Chair and non-Executive Director for Employee Engagement. Mel Smith, who joined the Board as a non-Executive Director in January 2019 and serves on the Remuneration Committee will take on the position as Remuneration Committee Chair from 1 April 2023. Elish Angiolini, who joined the Board as a non-Executive Director in September 2021 will take on the position as non-Executive Director for Employee Engagement from the same date.