FGP Firstgroup Plc

FIRSTGROUP PLC
APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

FirstGroup plc ('FirstGroup' or the 'Group') announces that Graham Sutherland has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer following a comprehensive search process led by the Nomination Committee of the Board. Graham will join the Board as an Executive Director and take up the role of Chief Executive Officer with effect from 16 May 2022.

Graham has an established record in strategic development, as well as in delivering enhanced financial and operational performance and engaging a diverse range of stakeholders.

Graham has held a number of senior leadership positions in organisations that provide critical services to consumer, business and public sector customers across the UK. He was Chief Executive Officer of KCOM Group plc, a LSE-listed telecommunications company, from 2018 until its sale to a Macquarie-managed infrastructure fund. Prior to this, Graham held a number of senior executive roles within BT Group PLC ('BT') over twelve years. These included as Chief Executive Officer of the BT Business and Public Sector division, where he was responsible for profitable growth and led the integration of EE's Business unit, creating a division with £4.6bn in annual revenues and 13,000 employees. Graham was also Chief Executive of BT Ireland where he was responsible for all consumer, business and network activities. Prior to that he was Chief Executive of NTL Ireland and has also held senior financial roles including at Bombardier. He is a non-executive director of Savvi, one of Ireland’s largest credit unions.

Commenting, David Martin, FirstGroup Executive Chairman said:

"I am delighted to welcome Graham to FirstGroup. He has a strong track record in the delivery of critical services and in creating value for shareholders in rapidly evolving regulatory and technological environments. Graham joins at an exciting and important time for FirstGroup which is now a focused and resilient business with a strong platform from which to develop. I am confident that Graham is ideally suited to take the Group forward and I look forward to working with him to maximise the widespread opportunities that exist for growth and sustainable value creation."

Commenting, Graham Sutherland said:

"It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to lead FirstGroup. I look forward to working with my new colleagues to drive the Group forward and deliver the vital services that are key to achieving society’s sustainability and economic goals. With its prime positions in bus and rail, strong balance sheet and clear purpose, FirstGroup has many opportunities ahead and I look forward to helping shape its exciting future.”

Other disclosures

Graham Sutherland's incentive arrangements are in line with the Remuneration Policy approved by the Group's shareholders in September 2021. Full details will be included in the forthcoming Directors’ Remuneration Report. FirstGroup Interim Executive Chairman David Martin will resume the role of Non-Executive Chairman from 1 July 2022. This announcement is made pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.11R. There are no other details required to be disclosed under Listing Rule 9.6.13R. Legal Entity Identifier (LEI): 549300DEJZCPWA4HKM93. Classification as per DTR 6 Annex 1R: 3.1.

FirstGroup plc (LSE: FGP.L) is a leading private sector provider of public transport services. With £4.3bn in revenue and around 30,000 employees, our UK divisions transported nearly 700,000 passengers a day in the 52 weeks to 27 March 2021. First Bus is the second largest regional bus operator in the UK, serving two-thirds of the UK’s 15 largest conurbations with a fleet of c.5,000 buses. First Rail is the UK’s largest rail operator, with many years of experience running long-distance, commuter, regional and sleeper rail services. We operate a fleet of c.3,750 rail vehicles through four management fee-based train operating companies (Avanti, GWR, SWR, TPE) and two open access routes (Hull Trains and Lumo, our new East Coast service which launched in October 2021). We create solutions that reduce complexity, making travel smoother and life easier. Our businesses are at the heart of our communities and the essential services we provide are critical to delivering wider economic, social and environmental goals. We are formally committed to operating a zero-emission First Bus fleet by 2035 and to cease purchasing further diesel buses after 2022; and First Rail will help support the UK Government’s goal to remove all diesel-only trains from service by 2040. FirstGroup was recently named as one of the world's cleanest 200 public companies for the third consecutive year by sustainable business media group Corporate Knights in partnership with US not-for-profit organisation, As You Sow. Visit our website at www.firstgroupplc.com and follow us @firstgroupplc on Twitter.