New Chairman

15 February 2021

AIM: WYN

WYNNSTAY GROUP PLC

("Wynnstay" or "the Group") 

New Chairman

The Board of Wynnstay, the agricultural supplies group, announces that after eight years as Chairman and 10 years as a member of the Board, Jim McCarthy, will be stepping down from his position at the forthcoming annual general meeting on Tuesday, 23 March 2021. 

Jim will be succeeded by Steve Ellwood, Non-executive Director, who will take up the role on 23 March. In order to ensure a smooth transition, Jim will remain on the Board as a Non-executive Director until 31 July 2021 when he will retire.

Steve joined Wynnstay's Board as Non-executive Director in January 2016. He has significant experience of the UK agricultural sector, having previously been Head of Agriculture at HSBC for 10 years, and Head of Food and Agriculture at Smith & Williamson. Steve also holds non-executive directorship positions at: NIAB Group, the crop science and research organization; AH Worth, the fresh produce group, where he is Chairman; and Velcourt, the international farm management group.

It is the Board's intention to appoint an additional non-executive director, and it has commenced a recruitment process to identify suitable candidates. 

Jim McCarthy, outgoing-Chairman of Wynnstay Group plc, commented:

"After 10 years on the Wynnstay Board, I step down, confident about the Group's growth prospects. The business has a strong management team, clear growth strategy, and robust balance sheet.

"I am delighted to handover to Steve. He is highly experienced, with significant knowledge of the sector as well as of Wynnstay. I have no doubt that he will help to drive the successful execution of the Board's strategy, and wish him and all my colleagues every success."

Steve Ellwood, Chairman-elect of Wynnstay Group plc, commented:

"On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Jim for his significant contribution to the Board and to Wynnstay over the past 10 years. His commitment to the Group has been outstanding.

"I am excited about the Group's prospects. Wynnstay is very well-positioned, both operationally and financially, as the agricultural sector embarks on a transition set by Brexit and the UK Agriculture Bill. We believe that there is a clear opportunity for Wynnstay to assist UK farmers to feed the nation in a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly and profitable way."

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