DIPLOMA PLC

DIRECTORATE CHANGE

Diploma PLC (the "Company" or "Diploma"), the international group distributing specialised products and services, today announces that Barbara Gibbes will step down from her role of Group Chief Financial Officer and leave the Group on Friday 30 September 2022. Barbara will be succeeded by Chris Davies as Group Chief Financial Officer whose start date will be confirmed in due course.

Chris Davies joins us from National Express Group PLC, a FTSE 250 business where he has been Group Chief Financial Officer since 2017. He previously served as Group Financial Controller and Treasurer and then Interim Group Chief Financial Officer at Inchcape plc, and Chief Financial Officer for North America at Diageo plc, where he also held several other senior roles. Prior to this, Chris held roles at Andersen Consulting, The Boots Company plc and Marakon Associates.  He is currently a Non-Executive Director of Motability Operations Group PLC.

Barbara Gibbes, current Group Chief Financial Officer, will remain in her existing role to support the Company through the current financial year and ensure an orderly transition. She will step down from the Board on Friday 30 September 2022.

During the interim period from 1 October 2022 until the date when Chris joins, Chief Executive, Johnny Thomson, will assume supervision of the senior finance team.

Commenting on the appointment, Johnny Thomson, Diploma's Chief Executive said:

"Barbara has played an important role for Diploma, helping to steer the business through the pandemic and to establish a strong platform for the future. On behalf of all my colleagues I would like to thank Barbara for her commitment and leadership.

I am delighted to welcome Chris to Diploma. He is an experienced CFO with an excellent track record in decentralised, service-led, multi-national organisations. As we continue to scale, he will also be an important support in the delivery of strategy, business performance and a robust financial framework. I am confident that he will make a strong contribution to our leadership team and the Group.  Chris is joining Diploma at an exciting time, and I very much look forward to working with him to execute our strategy of building high-quality, scalable businesses for organic growth."

There is no other information to be disclosed under paragraph 9.6.13 R of the Listing Rules in relation to the appointment of Chris Davies. 

This announcement includes inside information as defined in Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. The person responsible for arranging for the release of this announcement on behalf of the Company is John Morrison, Group Company Secretary and Head of Legal.

For further information, please contact:

Additional Information:

1.   Chris Davies will be paid in accordance with the Company's Directors' Remuneration Policy. Full details of Chris Davies's remuneration arrangements will be set out in the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30 September 2022.

2.   Barbara Gibbes will be treated in accordance with the Company's Directors' Remuneration Policy and the terms of her service contract. Further details will be disclosed on Diploma's website in compliance with Section 430(2B) of the Companies Act 2006 and in the Directors' Remuneration Report.

LEI: 2138008OG17VYG8FGR19