Earlier than expected departure for Mears Group boss as successor announced
Social housing and care firm Mears Group, which has its headquarters in Gloucester, has appointed Kieran Murphy as a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Company, following the retirement of Bob Holt from the Board. Both of these Board changes will take effect from 2 January 2019. Bob Holt, who has chaired the board since 1996, had previously announced last July that he would not seek re-election at the financial 2019 annual general meeting, next summer. However, with the appointment of Kieran now agreed, Bob has decided to retire from the Board.
Kieran has spent much of his career working in finance. He joined the Civil Service after university, spending eight years at HM Treasury. His subsequent executive career was in the City, firstly at Kleinwort Benson, a leading UK merchant bank and, more recently, at Gleacher Shacklock, a boutique corporate finance advisory firm. At Kleinwort, he built a market-leading corporate finance advisory business in the building and construction sector and became a member of the bank's Investment Bank Management Committee. At Gleacher, he extended his advisory work into the business services sector.
Kieran also has extensive experience as a non-executive director, having previously been on the board of Kingspan Group and currently being on the board of Aliaxis SA. He is chair at the Ordnance Survey, Great Britain's national mapping business, and is on the boards of the University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust and of the University of London.
David Miles, Chief Executive, Mears, said: "I am pleased to welcome Kieran Murphy to the Board of Mears. He brings a broad range of valuable experience into the boardroom as we continue to drive the business forward. I look forward to working with him in the years ahead.
"At the same time, we must all recognise the great contribution that Bob Holt has brought to Mears over the past 23 years. His commitment and guidance still underpins much of the business here today. Bob leaves with our thanks and we wish him every success in the future."
Kieran Murphy added: "I am delighted to be joining the Board of Mears. The Company plays an important role in the UK housing market and I look forward to working with the Board and management team".
