LONDON, UK: Christie Group plc, the leading provider of professional business services to the leisure, retail and care sectors, has announced that its long-serving chairman and chief executive David Rugg has resigned with immediate effect.

Mr Rugg, who joined the group in 1986 and became its chief executive in 1993, has decided to leave the company to pursue other interests.

The group said it had appointed Simon Herrick, an independent non-executive director, as its interim chairman, while Daniel Prickett, the chief operating officer, has been promoted to chief executive.

Mr Herrick said the board had started the process of finding a permanent independent chairman, which would be led by Andrew Doyle, another non-executive director and the chairman of the nominations committee.

He also thanked Mr Rugg for his “significant contribution” to the group over the past 35 years.

Hwfa Gwyn, a non-executive director, said: “On behalf of the board and my colleagues, I would like to take this opportunity to thank David for his significant contribution to the business over many years. We wish David all the very best for the future.”

Mr Prickett, who joined the group in 2017 as its chief operating officer, said he was delighted to take on the role of chief executive and lead the group’s “exceptionally talented team of people”.

He said: “I’m delighted to have been asked by the board to lead our exceptionally talented team of people across this unique and exciting group, and I look forward to working with all of my colleagues to deliver for our stakeholders in the years ahead.”

The group said it expected to incur some one-off costs this financial year relating to Mr Rugg’s departure and his contract of employment.

Christie Group plc operates across Europe, providing a range of services including valuation, consultancy, brokerage, insurance and finance. It also owns Christie & Co, a specialist property adviser for the hospitality sector.

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