CEO Succession and Board Appointment

Gateley, the legal and professional services group, is pleased to announce that, further to the CEO succession announcement issued on 10 July 2019, Rod Waldie has today been appointed to the Board as Chief Executive Officer. Michael Ward stands down as CEO but remains on the Board as an executive director with oversight responsibility for the Group's non-legal consulting businesses.

In addition to his role as the Senior Office Partner at Gateley Legal's Manchester office and leading the Group's national property team, Rod has been a key member of the Group's management board since joining Gateley via the acquisition of part of the Manchester office of Halliwells LLP in 2010 and played an instrumental part in Gateley's IPO in 2015.

Rod has also been involved in the successful integration of all nine acquisitions the Group has made since admission to AIM, which include, in the last financial year, the acquisitions of Persona Associates Ltd, T-three Group, Paul Tweed LLP and The Vinden Partnership Limited.

Full year ended 30 April 2020

An update of the Group's performance for the year end 30 April 2020 will be provided later this month.

Nigel Payne, Non-executive Chairman of Gateley, said:

"Our clear CEO succession plan was announced in July 2019 in order that we might effect a considered and orderly transition to Rod as the new CEO. The Board's firm decision to make an internal succession appointment to allow for an orderly and seamless handover has never seemed more important. I believe that it is a considerable comfort for all stakeholders of the Group to know that, in such challenging times, we have an experienced, trusted and familiar hand in Rod Waldie who is taking over executive responsibility for the business, as well as retaining the skills and experience of Mike Ward on the Board.

"Rod is highly successful and a well-respected colleague, who epitomises and embraces our collaborative culture, which is proving so important in the current circumstances. I very much look forward to working with Rod and Mike in their new roles and, on behalf of my fellow directors, wholeheartedly welcome Rod to the Board and thank Mike for his outstanding contribution to the business. Under his 19-year leadership, the business has grown to a network of 11 offices, employing over 1,000 people. Mike also led the Group's flotation in 2015 and has helped the business enjoy double digit growth in both revenue and people since we were admitted to AIM."

Rod Waldie, new Chief Executive Officer, added:

"On behalf of all my colleagues at Gateley, I wish to thank Mike for his guidance and wisdom during the handover period. We are delighted he has chosen to remain with the Group with his focus centred on our non-legal consulting businesses.

"I am taking on this role in unprecedented times but have held senior management roles in Gateley for 10 years and have a thorough understanding of the business, which is well capitalised, balanced and resilient. We have a loyal client base and our strong remote working platform enables us to continue to deliver services in line with our core ethos of fully supporting our clients and putting them first. I firmly believe that the quality of our people allied to our economically and geographically diversified model puts us in a strong position to react to the current macro-economic difficulties.  I am particularly proud of the positive attitude shown by the whole Gateley team during the last few weeks and by the continued determination and resourcefulness of our people during this challenging period."