G4S plc UK DK : Directorate change


18 May 2012

G4S PLC

PROPOSED NEW CHAIRMAN

G4S plc announces today its intention to appoint John Connolly to its board as an independent non-executive director and chairman.  The proposed appointment follows the previously announced intention of the current chairman, Alf Duch-Pedersen, to retire once a suitable successor has been appointed.  It is intended that Mr Duch-Pedersen's retirement and Mr Connolly's appointment will take place after the company's Annual General Meeting on 7 June 2012.

Commenting on the proposed appointment, Alf Duch-Pedersen said:

"I am very pleased that John has agreed to join the Board as my successor - he has extensive experience of working in a global business environment and in sectors which are of strategic importance to the group.

As I said when I announced my decision to retire, it has been an honour to lead the board of G4S and I would like to thank my fellow board members, management and employees of G4S for their support over the last seven years.  I wish John, Nick Buckles and the team the very best of luck for the future."

John Connolly added:

"I am delighted to be asked to join the board of G4S - it is a fascinating global company, which in some countries forms a key part of the fabric of society.  

There are many opportunities for the group to expand its geographic presence and to maximise the potential for outsourced services across its key sectors.  I am looking forward to becoming part of the G4S team and playing my part in its ongoing development."

Paul Condon, Senior Independent Director of G4S who led the recruitment process commented:

 "On behalf of the board I welcome John to G4S and wish him every success.  My board colleagues join me in thanking Alf for the significant contribution he has made to the sustained growth of the group under his board leadership over the last six years. We wish Alf a very happy retirement."

For further enquiries, please contact:

Helen Parris - Director of Investor Relations       +44 (0) 1293 554400
G4S

Media enquiries:

Adam Mynott - Director of Media Relations                        +44 (0) 1293 554400
G4S

John Sunnucks/David Allchurch         +44 (0) 207 353 4200
Tulchan Group                                                       

Notes to Editors:

G4S plc

G4S is the world's leading security solutions group, specialising in outsourcing of business processes in sectors where security and safety risks are considered a strategic threat.  

G4S is the largest employer quoted on the London Stock Exchange and has a secondary stock exchange listing in Copenhagen.  G4S has operations in more than 125 countries and over 657,000 employees.  

For more information on G4S, visit www.g4s.com .

John Connolly

Until May 2011, John had spent his career with Deloitte, the world's largest professional services firm.  Highlights of his Deloitte career:

  • Global  Chairman 2007 - 2011 

  • Global Managing Partner 2003 - 2007 

  • Senior Partner and CEO of the UK Partnership 1999 - 2011 

  • Senior Advisory Partner on a range of the firm's largest clients 

  • Prior to taking on senior leadership roles, John's background was in Corporate Finance 

John led the transformation of Deloitte in the UK, moving the firm from being the smallest of the major firms to becoming the leading firm in the market.  This involved a large number of transactions, the most important of which was the acquisition of Arthur Andersen.

In June 2011 John became chairman of FTSE100 consulting engineering and services company AMEC plc, and has been a special adviser to Deloitte.  He is also chairman of, and an investor in a number of private companies.

Beyond commercial business roles, John is chairman of The Centre for Children's Rare Disease Research at Great Ormond Street Hospital, is on the board of London Business School, a member of the Strategic Advisory Council of CityUK, member of the IBLF Leaders Council, chairman of the "Chairman's Group" of London 2012 sponsors, a member of the Advisory Boards of the Mayor of London and the Mayor of Rome and a member of the British American Business International Advisory Board.