REG - Robert Walters PLC - GROUP CEO SUCCESSION ANNOUNCEMENT

Robert WaltersAnnouncement

10/03/2023 07:15

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RNS Number : 5172S  Robert Walters PLC  10 March 2023

 

 

10 March 2023

 

ROBERT WALTERS PLC

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

 

Toby Fowlston will succeed Robert Walters as Group CEO

 

Robert Walters plc (LSE: RWA), the leading international recruitment group,
today announces that Robert Walters, Chief Executive Officer has decided to
retire as CEO and will step down from the Board with effect from 27 April
2023, the date of the Group's Annual General Meeting.

 

Following a succession process, the Nominations Committee and Robert have
selected Toby Fowlston as Chief Executive Officer Designate. Toby will take
over as Chief Executive Officer of Robert Walters Group and will join the
Board on 27 April 2023.

 

Toby has spent most of his career with the Group. He joined as a consultant in
London in 1999 and has since held senior positions leading the Group's
recruitment operations in both the UK and Asia Pacific, the Group's largest
and most profitable region.

 

Having worked his way up from consultant to managing the Group's London
recruitment business, Toby transferred to Singapore, heading up operations in
Singapore and South East Asia for five years before being promoted to CEO Asia
Pacific, a role he held for two years. Toby transferred back to London in
early 2021 and has since been working closely with Robert and the Board in the
role of CEO for the Group's global recruitment brands of Robert Walters and
Walters People.

 

Leslie Van de Walle, Chairman, commented:

 

"What an incredible journey Rob has had as CEO. He started the business on his
own in a serviced office in 1985 and has been at the forefront of both the
recruitment industry and the creation of one of the world's leading
international recruitment groups which today spans 31 countries and employs
over 4,300 people across the globe. During his tenure, he has helped the Group
successfully navigate the dotcom bust, the global financial crisis and a
global pandemic and he will leave the Group next month in great shape to
continue its growth story. I know I speak on behalf of the Board and all of
the Group's employees in thanking Rob for all his years of leadership.

 

"The Board looks forward to working closely with Toby and is excited to see
the Group continue its growth story with him at the helm."

 

Robert Walters, CEO commented:

 

"It's been an honour and privilege to have led the Group over the last 38
years, but the Group wouldn't be what it is today without the dedication and
commitment of all our employees past and present and I would like to take this
opportunity to thank each and every one of them for their contribution. Thanks
too, to our clients, candidates, suppliers and friends of the business who
have also played a huge part in the Group's success.

 

"To have such a worthy successor in place in Toby - who has been with the
Group since joining as a consultant in 1999 - is a true testament to the
Group's ability to grow our future leaders from within and is hopefully an
inspiration to all our employees across the globe. Having worked closely with
Toby over the last few years in particular, I am confident that the Group is
in safe hands and will continue to go from strength-to-strength in the years
to come."

 

Toby Fowlston, CEO Designate commented:

 

"After 23 years with the Group, it's an absolute privilege to be appointed as
the next CEO. I know first-hand what an incredible business this is and the
opportunity we have to continue to lead the sector and drive further sustained
and profitable growth.  I would like to personally thank Rob for his support
and guidance over the years and I know he will remain a valuable advisor to me
in the future and a fabulous brand ambassador for the Group."

 

 

There are no additional disclosures required to be made under LR 9.6.13R of
the Listing Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority.

 

Further information

 

 Robert Walters plc                        +44 (0) 20 7379 3333

 Robert Walters, Chief Executive

 Alan Bannatyne, Chief Financial Officer

 Williams Nicolson

 Steffan Williams                          +44 7767 345 563

 Claire Foster                             +44 7525 665 504

About Robert Walters Group

 

The Robert Walters Group is a market-leading international specialist
professional recruitment group. With over 4,300 staff spanning 31 countries,
we deliver specialist recruitment consultancy, staffing, recruitment process
outsourcing and managed services across the globe.  We match highly skilled
professionals to permanent, contract and interim roles across the disciplines
of accountancy & finance, banking, engineering, HR, healthcare,
technology, legal, sales, marketing, secretarial & support, and supply
chain, logistics & procurement. Our client base ranges from the world's
leading blue-chip corporates and financial services organisations through to
SMEs and start-ups.

 

www.robertwaltersgroup.com (http://www.robertwaltersgroup.com)

 

Forward looking statements

 

This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements. These
statements are made by the Directors in good faith based on the information
available to them at the time of their approval of this announcement and such
statements should be treated with caution due to the inherent uncertainties,
including both economic and business risk factors, underlying any such
forward-looking information.

 

 

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