Smith+Nephew Names Rupert Soames as New Chair

Smith+Nephew announced that Rupert Soames OBE will replace Roberto Quarta as chair of the company. Quarta reached the end of his tenure and will retire as chair and non-executive director in 2023.
 
Soames will officially be appointed as an independent non-executive director at Smith+Nephew’s annual general meeting on April 26, and will succeed Quarta as chair on September 15. Quarta will put himself forward for re-election as a non-executive director on April 26 as well.
 
Soames was most recently CEO of Serco Group, and outsourced services provider, between 2014 and 2022. Before that, he was chief executive of support services firm Aggreko from 2003 to 2014. Soames also served as a non-rxecutive independent director at both DS Smith, the sustainable packaging business (2019-2022) and support services company Electrocomponents plc (2007-2016) (now RS Group).
 
Marc Owen, Senior Independent Director, who along with the Nomination Governance Committee led the Chair search process, commented to the press: “The Board conducted an extensive search for a new Chair and we are delighted to welcome Rupert to the Board. We believe that Rupert’s extensive track record of value creation in global companies and deep understanding of corporate governance will help Deepak Nath and his team deliver on their existing plans to grow the business and to improve its operational performance. I would like to thank Roberto for his unwavering commitment and support to the Board and for his contribution and service to the Company during his tenure.”
 
Rupert Soames added: “Smith+Nephew is a leader in the medical technology sector with a 167-year history of supporting patients to return to health. I am honored to be the next Chair of the Board, and look forward to working with Deepak, the Smith+Nephew organisation and the Board to deliver on Smith+Nephew’s great potential. No further disclosure obligations arise under paragraphs (1) to (6) of LR 9.6.13 R of the UK Listing Authority’s Listing Rules in respect of this appointment.”