The Board of The Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc announced that Mary Ann Sieghart, the Company's Senior Independent Director, retired from the Board earlier September 14, 2018 at the conclusion of the Company's Annual General Meeting. Beatrice Hollond, Audit Committee Chairman, succeeds Mary Ann as the Company's Senior Independent Director. The Board also announced the appointment of two non-executive Directors, Alexandra Mackesy and Penelope Freer, with immediate effect. Alexandra has over 30 years' experience in the investment industry. Since retiring from full time employment as an investment analyst in April 2000, and relocating from Asia to the UK in 2002, she has focused on a portfolio of UK-based non-executive directorships, as well as acting as a consultant to a number of Asian-based business groups. Alexandra is currently a non-executive director on the Boards of The Scottish Oriental Smaller Companies Trust PLC, Murray International Trust PLC and JPMorgan Chinese Investment Trust PLC. She was previously a non-executive director of Schroder Asian Total Return Investment Company plc, Empiric Student Property plc and RENN Universal Growth Investment Trust plc. Penny is an experienced corporate adviser and Board director. From 2000 to 2004 she led Robert W Baird's UK equities division; prior to this she spent 8 years at Credit Lyonnais Securities where she headed the small and mid-cap equities business. Penny is a partner at London Bridge Capital Partners LLP, which provides corporate finance advice to private companies.