Company Announcements

For Immediate Release                                                                                                           29 June 2020 

Genus plc
('Genus', or the 'Company')

Appointment of Non-Executive Director and Chairman Designate

Genus plc (LSE: GNS), a leading global animal genetics company, announces that Iain Ferguson has been appointed by the Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 July 2020, and will succeed Bob Lawson as Chairman of the Company at the conclusion of the Company's next Annual General Meeting ('AGM') in November 2020.  Iain has been appointed as a member of the Nominations and Remuneration Committees, and will become Chair of the Nominations Committee upon Bob Lawson's retirement.

Iain brings extensive Board and governance experience relevant to Genus, as well as strong commercial, science and agribusiness expertise across a range of industries, with a particular focus on consumer goods and food. Iain is currently Chairman of Crest Nicholson Holdings plc and a Non-Executive Director of Personal Assets Trust plc, and was previously the Senior Independent Director of the animal genetics company Sygen International plc until 2006, when it was acquired by Genus. He was Chairman of Stobart Group Ltd and Senior Independent Director of Balfour Beatty plc until 2019 and Chairman of Berendsen plc until 2017. 

Iain joined Unilever plc, one of the world's largest Consumer Goods Groups, in 1977 and built his career in a variety of roles including General Manager, Unilever AgriBusiness, Executive Chair, Unilever Plantations and Plant Sciences Group, and Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, before joining Tate & Lyle plc as Chief Executive in 2003. 

Iain's appointment follows an extensive search process using an external search agency.

Commenting on the appointment, Lesley Knox, the Company's Senior Independent Director who led the planned succession process, said, "For over a decade, Bob Lawson has led the successful transformation of Genus to become a world leader in the provision of elite bovine and porcine genetics and related services.  I am delighted that Iain has agreed to join Genus and transition into the Chairman role. I believe that Iain brings the right mix of Board experience, international exposure and business skills to maintain the continued growth of the Company and its seamless execution on strategy.  The transition period prior to the AGM will enable Iain to gain a strong understanding of the Company's business before becoming the Chairman in November."   

Iain Ferguson added, "I am delighted to have been appointed as a Director and Chairman-designate of Genus.  I look forward to working with the Chairman, Bob Lawson, the Board, the executive committee and the rest of the Genus team on the opportunities ahead for this great Company."

Bob Lawson, Chairman of Genus, commented "Genus is an outstanding company and one that I have been extremely proud to have worked for. I look forward to assisting Iain in understanding the Company's operations and wish him every success as he sets out to lead Genus through the next stage of our growth."

This announcement is available on the Genus website www.genusplc.com

About Genus

Genus is a world-leading animal genetics company. Genus creates advances to animal breeding and genetic improvement by applying biotechnology and sells added value products for livestock farming and food producers. Its technology is applicable across livestock species and is currently commercialised by Genus in the dairy, beef and pork food production sectors.

Genus's worldwide sales are made in over seventy-five countries under the trademarks 'ABS' (dairy and beef cattle) and 'PIC' (pigs) and comprise semen, embryos and breeding animals with superior genetics to those animals currently in farms. Genus's customers' animals produce offspring with greater production efficiency, and quality, and use these to supply the global dairy and meat supply chains.

The Group's competitive edge has been created from the ownership and control of proprietary lines of breeding animals, the biotechnology used to improve them and its global supply chain, technical service and sales and distribution network.

With headquarters in Basingstoke, United Kingdom, Genus companies operate in over twenty-five countries on six continents, with research laboratories located in Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

Regulatory Notes

Details of any payments to be made to Iain Ferguson will be disclosed in full in the Company's 2020 Directors' Remuneration Report.  Any such terms will be consistent with the Company's approved Directors' Remuneration Policy.

This announcement is made in accordance with Listing Rule 9.6.11R.   There are no matters to be disclosed in connection with Listing Rule 9.6.13R (2) - (6). The person responsible for making this announcement on behalf of the Group is Dan Hartley (General Counsel and Company Secretary).