Val Gooding to become Chairman of Premier Farnell plc

Date
05/25/2011

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Valerie Gooding CBE, non-executive director and Chairman of the Board, Premier Farnell

Premier Farnell, the leading distributor of products and services to engineers and purchasing professionals globally, is pleased to announce the appointment of Valerie Gooding CBE as a non-executive director and Chairman of the Board with effect from 15 June 2011. Val will succeed Sir Peter Gershon, who retires at the Company's Annual General Meeting on 14 June after 7 years on the Board. Ms. Gooding brings a wealth of global experience to the Board including 10 years as CEO of BUPA, a period during which the group more than trebled in size, delivered record profits, and achieved significant international expansion. Prior to joining BUPA Ms. Gooding held a number of senior roles at British Airways, latterly as Director for Asia Pacific . She will continue to serve as a non-executive director on the Boards of Standard Chartered plc and the BBC, but will stand down from the Board of J Sainsbury plc at the company's Annual General Meeting in July to give her the time to devote to the Chairmanship of Premier Farnell. Ms. Gooding was previously a non-executive director of Compass Group plc and BAA plc. Commenting on the appointment, Dennis Millard, Senior Independent Director said, "We are delighted that Val will be joining Premier Farnell as we continue to execute our strategy for profitable growth, bringing innovation and differentiation to the global high service distribution sector. She will bring outstanding qualities to the role of Chairman and we welcome her to the Company. We would also like to thank Sir Peter Gershon for his strong leadership and invaluable counsel over the past 7 years. His insight and experience has been important throughout this time as we have worked to transform the organisation." Val Gooding, previously recognised in the Fortune list of most powerful women in world business said, "This is an exciting appointment for me. I have watched Premier Farnell's evolution with interest in recent years as it has transformed to become a web business with a strong international presence in the emerging markets, and high service reputation. Sir Peter Gershon leaves an outstanding legacy and I look forward to building upon it with the Board, Harriet Green and the wider executive team to deliver continued profitable growth through anticipating and meeting the needs of our customers and suppliers in the rapidly changing world of technology."

About Premier Farnell Premier Farnell plc is leading the way in the high service, multi-channel provision of essential products, information, software and technology solutions to electronic design engineers, maintenance and repair engineers and purchasing professionals globally. Its differentiated proposition includes 29 local language transactional websites, and the critically important element14 ecommunity for design engineers - an industry first (www.element14.com). With sales last year of £990.8m and underlying profits of £93.3m the Group distributes its comprehensive portfolio of products and services throughout Europe, North America and Asia Pacific, supported by a global supply chain of over 3,500 suppliers and an inventory profile developed to anticipate and meet its customers' needs. Recently awarded Platinum status by the Business in the Community Corporate Responsibility Index the business takes its CSR commitments very seriously. While global in scope, Premier Farnell recognises the individual needs of each market and has continued to internationalise its model accordingly, trading locally under different brand names. Its primary electronics businesses trade as Farnell in Europe, Newark in the US, Canada and Mexico and Farnell Newark in Brazil. Across Asia Pacific the business trades as element14. For more information, please visit www.premierfarnell.com

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