Watkin Jones plc

('Watkin Jones' or the 'Group')

Board changes

Watkin Jones plc (AIM:WJG) is pleased to announce the appointment of Rachel Addison as a non-executive director with effect from 1 April 2022.  On joining the Board, Rachel will become a member of the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees.

Rachel was Chief Financial Officer of Future plc, the listed global platform business for specialist media, until 2021.  Prior to this, she was Chief Financial Officer of TI Media Limited and held various senior financial, operational and board-level roles at Trinity Mirror (now Reach) Regionals, Local World Limited, Northcliffe Media Limited and Boots the Chemist where she was Head of Risk Management.  Rachel qualified as a chartered accountant at Arthur Anderson.

Rachel is a non-executive director of Marlowe plc, the business-critical services and software provider, Hyve Group plc, an in-person and digital international B2B events business, and Mango Publishing Group, an independent book publisher.  She is chair of the Audit Committee at Marlowe plc and chair of the Remuneration Committee at Hyve Group plc.

Simon Laffin has indicated his desire to retire from the Board and it is envisaged that he will step down on 1 August 2022.  Upon his retirement, Rachel will take up the role of Chair of the Audit Committee.

Alan Giddins, Chair of Watkin Jones, commented:

"On behalf of the Board I am delighted to welcome Rachel to Watkin Jones.  Rachel has strong financial, operational management and Board experience, and I believe this will add considerable value to the Group.

"I would also like to thank Simon for his huge contribution to the success of Watkin Jones.  Simon joined the Board at the time of the IPO in 2016 and has been instrumental in enhancing the Group's governance framework following its transition to a public company."

For further information:

Media enquiries:

Disclosures required by Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules for Companies:

Rachel Bernadette Addison Horsley, aged 51, holds or has previously held the following directorships in the last five years:

There is no other information that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Schedule 2 paragraph (g) or Rule 17 of the AIM Rules for Companies in respect of Rachel Addison.

Notes to Editors

Watkin Jones is the UK's leading developer and manager of residential for rent, with a focus on the build to rent, student accommodation and affordable housing sectors. The Group has strong relationships with institutional investors, and a reputation for successful, on-time-delivery of high quality developments.  Since 1999, Watkin Jones has delivered 46,000 student beds across 136 sites, making it a key player and leader in the UK purpose-built student accommodation market, and is increasingly expanding its operations into the build to rent sector.  In addition, Fresh, the Group's specialist accommodation management business, manages over 22,000 student beds and build to rent apartments on behalf of its institutional clients.  Watkin Jones has also been responsible for over 80 residential developments, ranging from starter homes to executive housing and apartments.

The Group's competitive advantage lies in its experienced management team and capital-light business model, which enables it to offer an end-to-end solution for investors, delivered entirely in-house with minimal reliance on third parties, across the entire life cycle of an asset.

Watkin Jones was admitted to trading on AIM in March 2016 with the ticker WJG.L.  For additional information please visit www.watkinjonesplc.com