CVS Group plc announced board level appointments and changes to its senior leadership team. After 16 years as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Simon Innes (59), has decided to step down from his role with the Group with immediate effect  and has agreed to facilitate an orderly handover of his responsibilities to Richard Fairman and the wider management team.  Simon has agreed to make himself reasonably available after the termination of his contract to assist the Company.  Richard Fairman (52), previously Group Finance Director, has agreed to become Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with immediate effect.

Richard became a director of the Company in August 2018 and Group Finance Director in late September 2018.   Upon becoming CEO, Richard will relinquish the role of Group Finance Director but will provide ongoing support to his successor. Ben Jacklin, MA VetMB MVetMed DipECVS MRCVS (36), previously Director of Practice Operations, is appointed as Chief Operating Officer for the Group and is expected to be appointed shortly to the Company's Board, subject to the completion of customary regulatory diligence.   Ben joined CVS as Equine Director via an acquisition in 2016, prior to which he was Clinical Director at a large mixed practice.  Robin Alfonso FCA (40), previously Head of Finance since July 2019, assumes the role of Finance Director and is also expected to be shortly appointed to the Company's Board, subject to the completion of customary regulatory diligence. Robin joined RAC in 2011 as Group Financial Controller, and was pivotal to the development and improvement of its independent financial systems and controls as it separated from Aviva under new private equity owners The Carlyle Group.