Severn Trent Plc - Succession Planning and Board Changes

The Board of Severn Trent Plc today announces that Dame Angela Strank, Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Corporate Sustainability Committee, will step down from the Board in March 2022, after serving over eight years.

Christine Hodgson, Chair, said:

"We have been extremely privileged to have the benefit of Angela's broad expertise on the Board and we have valued her significant contribution to the sustainability agenda of the Company in particular. We are grateful to Angela for sharing her wealth of knowledge and vast experience with the Board and the Company. It has been a pleasure to work with Angela". 

Additionally, the Board of Severn Trent Plc is delighted to announce that Gillian Sheldon and Thomas (Tom) Delay have been appointed as Non-Executive Directors of the Company and of Severn Trent Water Limited with effect from 1 November 2021 and 1 January 2022 respectively. 

Gillian Sheldon has been appointed as a member of the Nominations, Treasury and Audit Committees and she brings extensive strategy, corporate finance and M&A experience to the Company.  She is currently a Senior Advisor at Credit Suisse in the Investment Banking division, where she provides advice on a broad range of complex transactions to clients across multiple industries. Gillian is also a member of the Salesforce Europe, Middle East and Africa Advisory Board, where she provides strategic guidance and supports the company's growth into international markets. 

Gillian joined Credit Suisse in 1996, and went on to become Head of Telecoms, Media and Technology Investment Banking in Europe and then Vice Chairman of Investment Banking.  Her previous experience includes roles at N M Rothschild & Sons and a Trustee and Chair of the Investment Committee of BBC Children in Need. Until February 2021, she was the Senior Independent Director at Capita Plc.

Tom Delay has also been appointed as a member of the Nominations Committee and of the Corporate Sustainability Committee.  He will succeed Dame Angela Strank as Chair of the Corporate Sustainability Committee when she steps down from the Board in March 2022.

Tom brings extensive strategy, sustainability, energy and engineering experience to the Company.  He was appointed as the first Chief Executive of the Carbon Trust in 2001.  Since then, he has grown the company to become a world leader, advising businesses and governments on carbon emissions reduction and the development of low carbon technologies, markets and businesses.  More recently, he has taken the company's unique capabilities further afield, extending its mission to accelerate the move to a sustainable, low carbon future.

Tom is a chartered engineer with extensive experience of the energy sector and worked for Shell for 16 years in a variety of commercial and operations roles before moving into management consultancy with McKinsey and Co and then as a Principal with the Global Energy Practice of AT Kearney. Tom is a member of the UK Energy Research Partnership and the advisory boards of the Centre for Climate Finance and Investment at Imperial College London and the Global CO₂ Initiative at the University of Michigan.  In 2018, he was awarded a CBE by the Queen for services to sustainability in business.

Commenting on the appointments, Christine Hodgson, Chair, said, "On behalf of the entire Board, I look forward to welcoming both Gillian and Tom to Severn Trent.  Their wide-ranging strategic corporate finance and sustainability experience, gained over many years, will complement the existing composition of the Board and will help to ensure that we continue to build upon the excellent progress we have made in delivering for all of our stakeholders."

Gillian Sheldon, said, "I am delighted to have been appointed as a Director of Severn Trent.  I look forward to working with the Board and Executive Team in serving Severn Trent's customers and broader stakeholders on the opportunities ahead."

Tom Delay, said, "I am thrilled to be joining Severn Trent at such an exciting time in its sustainability journey.  I look forward to working with Christine and my other Board colleagues to support Severn Trent's long-standing commitment to delivering for its customers, and broader stakeholders in a sustainable way."

The Company confirms that there is no other information to be disclosed under the requirements of Listing Rule 9.6.13R in relation to these appointments.