Appointment of Chairman

 8 May 2018

Benchmark Holdings plc

("Benchmark" or the "Company") 

Appointment of Chairman

Benchmark (AIM: BMK), the aquaculture health, advanced nutrition, and genetics business announces the appointment of Peter George as Chairman of the Board with immediate effect. As announced on 31^st January 2018, Alex Hambro will retire from the Board on Peter's appointment and will ensure an orderly handover.

Peter has a strong track record in growing successful international pharmaceutical and healthcare businesses. He is most renowned for his achievements as CEO of Clinigen Group plc, the FTSE AIM global pharmaceutical and services company, which he founded in 2010 and grew into close to a £1bn market cap company having acquired several businesses and expanded its international footprint.

Peter now serves as Chairman of Ergomed plc, the AIM-listed provider of clinical research, drug development and safety services internationally. He is also an Entrepreneur in Residence at Oxford Science Innovations.

Prior to Clinigen, he held a number of senior roles in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors including Chief Executive Officer of Penn Pharmaceutical Services. He co-created Unilabs Clinical Trials International in 1997, which was successfully sold to Icon plc in 2000.

Peter George, incoming Chairman commented:

"I am delighted to lead the Board of Benchmark Holdings. I have been impressed by the strength of Benchmark's position in aquaculture, its products, scale and global distribution network. There are many exciting prospects for us and, as Chairman I intend to work closely with the Board to help deliver shareholder value and continue to develop the Company's leading position in aquaculture."

Malcolm Pye, Benchmark CEO commented: 

"I am delighted to welcome Peter George to our Board as Chairman. He has a wealth of experience and a demonstrable track record in delivering shareholder value. I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to drive growth across our organisation."

Alex Hambro, Benchmark's retiring Chairman commented:

"I am very pleased Benchmark has taken on Peter George. I have no doubt he will be instrumental in guiding the Company through its next phase of growth and I wish him, the Board and Benchmark's management team every success in the future."

Additional Information

Peter Lutz George (age 57) has held the following directorships in the last five years:

Current Directorships:

·      Ergomed plc

·      Xpg Ltd

·      Xpg1 Ltd

·      Xpg2 Ltd

·      Xpg3 Ltd

·      Mitre Limited

·      Mitre Group Limited

·      Church View Properties Management Ltd

·      Enigma Holdings Group Limited

·      Xpg Holdings Limited

·      Rentplus-UK Limited

·      Enigma Holdings Rentplus Limited 

·      The Centre For Leadership And Management Limited  

·      Eminent Sport Group Ltd

·      Marco Polo Events Ltd

·      Wichtig International Limited

·      454 Daniel and Donna Lda

Previous Directorships - Last 5 years:

·      Clinigen CTS Limited

·      Clinigen CTS Inc (US)

·      Clinigen Clinical Trials Limited

·      Clinigen GAP Limited

·      Clinigen Group PLC

·      Clinigen Healthcare Limited

·      Clinigen Pharma Limited

·      Clinigen SP Limited

·      Idis GA Limited

·      Idis Group Holdings Limited

·      Idis Group Limited

·      Idis Inc (US)

·      Idis Limited

·      Idis MA Limited

·      Idis Pharma Limited

·      Idis Trustee (UK) Limited

·      Keats Healthcare Limited

Peter George was a director of UCT (UK) Limited from 26 July 1999 until its dissolution on 6 November 2004 following a voluntary creditors liquidation.

Save as disclosed above, there are no further disclosures required to be made in respect of the appointment under Schedule 2(g) or Rule 17 of the AIM Rules for Companies.

Notes to Editors:

Benchmark challenges the status quo in aquaculture. Since 2000, Benchmark has consistently worked to build a technology-rich platform in the areas of genetics, advanced nutrition, animal health and knowledge services, to serve its customers, helping them take control of their biological environment to improve yield and efficiency in a sustainable way.

The Company has leading positions in its core markets and established R&D, manufacturing and distribution capabilities to serve all the major aquaculture markets. Benchmark operates in 27 countries in five continents and as at 30 September 2017, it employed 950 people.

For further information on Benchmark please visit www.benchmarkplc.com