Spire Healthcare Group plc

("Spire Healthcare", "the Company" or "the Group")

Directorate announcement

4 March 2021

Spire Healthcare Group plc (LSE: SPI), a leading UK independent hospital group, today announces the appointment of its new Chairman following the decision of Garry Watts to retire.

Sir Ian Cheshire will join Spire Healthcare as Chairman-designate on 4 March 2021 and accede to the role of Chairman following the AGM on 13 May 2021. Sir Ian brings to Spire Healthcare considerable FTSE experience, deep understanding at the government-business interface and broad ESG credentials

Sir Ian's long and distinguished career included 17 years at Kingfisher plc, the last seven of which was as Group CEO. He was also CEO of B&Q. Sir Ian offers significant chair experience having most recently served as Chairman of Barclays UK for four years during which time he helped establish the ring fenced bank and successfully set up its board and governance structure. Sir Ian has held a number of Lead Non-Executive roles in UK Government, including Lead Non-Executive Member of the Cabinet Office Board. Sir Ian also has considerable ESG credentials through prominent roles such as Chairman of The Prince of Wales Corporate Leaders Group on climate change and president of the Business Disability Forum President's Group.

Garry Watts commented: "The past year has been a challenging way to complete my tenure as Chairman but one that showed Spire at its very best. The business has developed significantly over the last ten years, becoming a successful listed company with an uncompromising focus on patient care. I leave the organisation confident that it has a bright future as a key player in UK Healthcare, led by an outstanding senior management team."

Sir Ian Cheshire commented: "I am delighted to join Spire Healthcare at such an important time for UK healthcare. The company has navigated the challenges of COVID-19 well and is set to emerge from the pandemic with a stronger business. I look forward to helping the management team to drive that business forward."

Disclosures pursuant to paragraph 9.6.13 of the Listing Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority

Sir Ian Cheshire is currently a non-executive director of both Barclays Bank plc and BT Group plc and chairman of Menhaden plc.  He served as a chairman of Debenhams plc until January 2019.

There are no further disclosures required in respect of these appointments pursuant to paragraph 9.6.13 of the Listing Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority.

For further information please contact:

Registered Office and Head Office:

Spire Healthcare Group plc
3 Dorset Rise
London
EC4Y 8EN

Registered number 09084066

About Spire Healthcare

Spire Healthcare is a leading independent hospital group in the United Kingdom, with 39 private hospitals and 8 clinics across England, Wales and Scotland.

Working in partnership with around 7,300 experienced consultants, Spire Healthcare delivered tailored, personalised care to approximately 810,000 in-patients and daycase patients in 2019, and is the leading private provider, by volume, of knee and hip operations in the United Kingdom.

The Group's well located and scalable hospitals have delivered successful and award-winning clinical outcomes, positioning the Group well with patients, consultants, the NHS, GPs and Private Medical Insurance ("PMI") providers. 90% of Spire Healthcare's hospitals are rated 'Good' or 'Outstanding' by the CQC (or the equivalent in Scotland and Wales).

Spire Healthcare treats patients through a variety of routes including PMI, Self-pay and the NHS, providing the Group with diversified access to the expected growth opportunities in the UK healthcare market, which faces significant supply challenges as a result of NHS budget constraints and increasing demand from a growing population with longer life expectancy.