Whitworth will step down as a senior independent director next month to focus on her other business commitments
Rank Group has begun the search for a new senior independent director to replace Karen Whitworth, who is standing down from the company’s Board at the end of next month.
Whitworth has informed the Board that she will step down after the year-end results, with effect from 31 August, to focus on her other business commitments.
She has served on the Rank Board since November 2019 and was appointed senior independent director in January 2022.
Rank said that Whitworth has been responsible for the recruitment of its current chair, John Ott, his subsequent integration into the group, and supported the process to appoint Richard Harris as CEO, who was confirmed earlier this month.
“I would personally like to thank Karen for her guidance and support during my first year as chair,” said Ott. “Also, on behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Karen for her service and invaluable contribution to the business since joining the Board in 2019. We wish her all the best in her future endeavours.”
An independent search process to identify Whitworth’s replacement has commenced.
From 1 September, Keith Laslop will become the interim Audit Committee chair, having served as a non-executive director of Rank and a member of the Audit Committee since September 2023.
Shares in Rank Group plc (LSE:RNK) were trading 0.32 per cent higher at 93.60 pence per share in London Friday morning.