Appointment of Independent Non-Executive Directors

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, JAPAN, ANY MEMBER STATE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA OR ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH IT WOULD BE UNLAWFUL TO DO SO.

LEI: 2549008KZ7HM27V4O637

16 October 2024

InvestAcc Group Limited (the "Company" or "InvestAcc")

Appointment of Independent Non-Executive Directors

InvestAcc is delighted to announce the appointment of three Independent Non-Executive Directors who today join the Company's Board; John Castagno, who will also assume the role of Senior Independent Director, Helen Copinger-Symes and Martin Potkins. 

As set out in the Company's prospectus dated 1 July 2024, the Company confirmed its intention, on completion of the acquisition of the InvestAcc operating group, to appoint three Independent Non-Executive directors and comply, so far as is practicable, with the UK Corporate Governance Code.  These appointments strengthen the Company's governance arrangements and provide the Board with highly credible and experienced directors who provide expertise in areas critical to the Company as it seeks to execute its stated strategy to become the leading UK pensions administration business.  

New Appointments:

Giovanni (John) Castagno

Giovanni (John) has over 45 years' experience of working as an executive and non-executive with companies such as Legal & General, BUPA, Post Office Insurance, Tesco Bank, British Gas Insurance and Hastings Direct.

John is currently Non-Executive Chair of Dignity Funerals Limited, Honorary Chairman of Wide Group (Italy) and is the Senior Independent Director and Non-Executive Chair of risk for Markerstudy Group Holdings Limited.

Helen Copinger-Symes

Helen has over 35 years' experience in financial services, initially in fixed income capital markets, followed by an extensive career in institutional asset management focusing on investments for UK pension funds. She has worked for several global investment firms including Deutsche Asset Management, Invesco Perpetual, AllianceBernstein and State Street Global Advisors, in addition to a boutique hedge fund.

Helen currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the board of Nest Corporation as well as Chair of the Pension SuperFund Holdings and Pension SuperFund Sponsor boards. She is also a Trustee and Chair of the Investment Committee for DHL (UK) Foundation, overseeing the Foundation's portfolio of assets.

Martin Potkins

Martin is a highly experienced senior executive with particular expertise in financial services, specifically life & pensions, general and health insurance developed over 35+ years. His most recent executive role was as interim CFO for Bupa where he continues to chair the UK DB pension scheme and the Bupa Global subsidiary serving EU customers based in Ireland.

Martin has significant experience of complex change in a variety of different scenarios, from established businesses (based in UK and worldwide) impacted by regulatory change, to acquisitive concerns requiring structural transformation and cultural change.

Commenting on the appointments, Executive Chairman Mark Hodges, said:

We are delighted to welcome John, Helen and Martin to the board and are very much looking to working alongside them at this exciting time in the development of the Company. 

Governance enhancements:

These appointments demonstrate the Company's ongoing commitment to maintaining a high standard of governance and further strengthen the Board's expertise in areas critical to the Company's strategic objectives.

The Board is confident that John, Helen and Martin bring a wealth of knowledge and diverse experience that will further enhance the Company's ability to deliver long-term value for shareholders.

Effective on their appointment, the Company has established four committees, an Audit Committee, Risk Committee, Nomination Committee and a Remuneration Committee and elected John to be appointed as Senior Independent Non-Executive Director and Helen to be appointed as the Designated Workforce Director.

The Committee composition is as follows:

Enquiries:

Company Secretary - + 44 (0) 207 004 2700
Antoinette Vanderpuije

FGS Global - PR Adviser
Rollo Head 07768 994 987
Chris Sibbald 07855 955 531

Panmure Liberum Limited (Corporate Broker) - + 44 (0) 203 100 2000

Chris Clarke / Ed Thomas / Anake Singh

Zeus Capital Limited (Corporate Broker) - + 44 (0) 207 220 1666

Harry Ansell / Katy Mitchell

Notes

John Castagno

Giovanni (John) Castagno (aged 65 years) currently holds or has held the following directorships in the past five years:

Current Directorships

Nosrat Consultancy Services Limited
Hub Investment Holdings Limited
Dignity Funerals Limited

Dignity Group Holdings Limited
Wide Group (Italy) Srl
Markerstudy Group Holdings Limited

Past Directorships

Markerstudy Insurance Services Limited

BFSL Limited

Brightside Insurance Services Limited

Clegg Gifford & Co Limited

Affinity Insurance Solutions Limited

BISL Limited

Insurance Factory Limited

ACM ULR Limited

Hub Investment Holdings Limited

Post Office Management Services Limited

John was appointed as a director of Simple and Open Limited on 25 September 2013, the company was dissolved via voluntary strike off on 24 March 2020.

There are no further details to be disclosed under UKLR 6.4.8 (if such provision were applicable to companies whose shares are admitted to the equity shares (transition) category of the Official List) in respect of the appointment of John Castagno.

Helen Copinger-Symes

Helen Clare Copinger-Symes (aged 57 years) currently holds or has held the following directorships in the past five years:

Current Directorships

Nest Corporation
PSF Holdings Limited
PSF Sponsor Limited
The DHL UK Foundation

Past Directorships

The Rifles Regimental Museum Trust

There are no further details to be disclosed under UKLR 6.4.8 (if such provision were applicable to companies whose shares are admitted to the equity shares (transition) category of the Official List) in respect of the appointment of Helen Copinger-Symes.

Martin Potkins

Martin Potkins (aged 63 years) currently holds or has held the following directorships in the past five years:

Current Directorships

BUPA Home Healthcare Pension Scheme Trustee Limited

Cromwell Hospital Retirement Plan Trustee Limited

BUPA Pension Scheme Trustees Limited

BUPA Global DAC

Past Directorships

BUPA Limited

BUPA Investments Overseas Limited

BUPA Investments Limited

BUPA Finance Plc

BUPA International Markets Limited

British United Provident Association Limited

Which? Financial Services Limited

There are no further details to be disclosed under UKLR 6.4.8 (if such provision were applicable to companies whose shares are admitted to the equity shares (transition) category of the Official List) in respect of the appointment of Martin Potkins.