KLR Keller Group Plc

14 November 2024

Keller Group plc

Appointment of Non-executive Director and Chair designate

Keller Group plc ('Keller' or 'the Group'), the world's largest geotechnical specialist contractor, announces the appointment of Carl-Peter Forster as a Non-executive Director and Chair designate.

Carl-Peter will join the Board of Keller as a Non-executive Director and Chair designate with effect from 16 December 2024. Carl-Peter will succeed Peter Hill CBE who announced in July 2024 his intention to step down after approaching nine years as Chairman. Following a handover period Carl-Peter will succeed Peter as Chair on 5 March 2025. As well as his role as Non-executive Director and Chair designate, Carl-Peter will be appointed to the Nomination and Governance Committee on 16 December 2024 and will become Chair of that committee on 5 March 2025 when he assumes the role of Chair of the Board.

Carl-Peter is currently Chairman of Vesuvius plc, Chemring Group PLC and the Senior Independent Director and Remuneration Committee Chair at Babcock International Group plc. On 30 November 2024 Carl-Peter will step down as Chairman of Chemring, as previously announced. He is also Chairman of StoreDot, a member of the Kinexon GmbH Advisory Board, and a member of the Boards of The Mobility House AG, Gordon Murray Group Limited and Envisics Ltd.  

He was previously a Non-executive Director of IMI plc, Rexam PLC, Rolls-Royce plc and Cosworth Ltd, and served as Chairman of The London Electric Vehicle Company Ltd, and as a member of the Boards of Volvo Cars Corporation and Geely Automobile Holdings.

This appointment follows a thorough search process undertaken by the Nomination and Governance Committee of the Board, led by Baroness Kate Rock, Keller's Senior Independent Director.

Baroness Kate Rock said:

"Following a thorough selection process to identify and select a new Chair, we are delighted to welcome Carl-Peter to the Board at an exciting point in Keller's development. His experience across a range of international industrial companies, in a broad range of executive and non-executive roles, will be invaluable to Keller and the Group's future strategic development.

On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Peter for his leadership and significant contribution to Keller. Peter has chaired Keller through a transformational period and will be leaving a strong legacy of performance delivery and value creation."

Carl-Peter Forster said:

"I am delighted to be joining the Keller Group and I look forward to working with the Board and the executive team to drive forward the Group's strategy and ensuring that it continues to create significant value for all stakeholders."

There are no further details to be disclosed pursuant to Listing Rule 6.4.8R in connection with Carl-Peter Forster's appointment.

Notes to editors:

Keller is the world's largest geotechnical specialist contractor providing a wide portfolio of advanced foundation and ground improvement techniques used across the entire construction sector. With around 10,000 staff and operations across five continents, Keller tackles an unrivalled 6,000 projects every year, generating annual revenue of c£3bn.

The following statement is made pursuant to section 430(2B) of the Companies Act 2006: Peter Hill will continue to receive fees for his services whilst a director but will not receive any payment in lieu of notice or for loss of office.  As Non-executive Chairman, Peter is not entitled to participate in the Company's bonus, employee share plans or pension arrangements.

 Cautionary statements:

This document contains certain 'forward-looking statements' with respect to Keller's financial condition, results of operations and business and certain of Keller's plans and objectives with respect to these items. 

Forward-looking statements are sometimes, but not always, identified by their use of a date in the future or such words as 'anticipates', 'aims', 'due', 'could', 'may', 'should', 'expects', 'believes', 'intends', 'plans', 'potential', 'reasonably possible', 'targets', 'goal' or 'estimates'. By their very nature forward looking statements are inherently unpredictable, speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, changes in the economies and markets in which the Group operates; changes in the regulatory and competition frameworks in which the Group operates; the impact of legal or other proceedings against or which affect the Group; and changes in interest and exchange rates. For a more detailed description of these risks, uncertainties and other factors, please see the Principal risks and uncertainties section of the Strategic report in the Annual Report and Accounts. All written or verbal forward looking-statements, made in this document or made subsequently, which are attributable to Keller or any other member of the Group or persons acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the factors referred to above. Keller does not intend to update these forward-looking statements. Nothing in this document should be regarded as a profits forecast. This document is not an offer to sell, exchange or transfer any securities of Keller Group plc or any of its subsidiaries and is not soliciting an offer to purchase, exchange or transfer such securities in any jurisdiction. Securities may not be offered, sold or transferred in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act of 1933 (as amended). 

LEI number: 549300QO4MBL43UHSN10 Classification as per DTR 6 Annex 1R: 3.1