Reuters Appoints FitzGerald As New Chairman
Global information company Reuters has announced the appointment of Sir Niall FitzGerald as chairman, replacing the outgoing Sir Christopher Hogg with effect from 1 October.
FitzGerald has been a non-executive director of Reuters since January 2003, but his appointment as chairman comes just two weeks after his resignation as chairman and chief executive of Unilever, a position he has held since 1996.
Before joining Unilever, FitzGerald was non-executive director of Merck, Ericsson, Bank of Ireland and the Prudential Corporation. His latest appointment will see him head the world’s largest international news agency whose group operating profit for 2003 came in at £126 million last month (see Reuters Results Beat Expectations As Profit Returns).
Speaking of his successor, Reuters’ outgoing chairman, Sir Christopher Hogg, said: “I warmly welcome Niall to the chair of what is both a fine company and a great global brand. I am totally confident that Reuters strategy is matched by its ability to implement its plans.”
Hogg leaves his post after 18 years at Reuters’ helm. Speaking of his departure Tom Glocer, the company’s chief executive, said: “In his years as chairman he has guided Reuters through many very good years and some challenging ones. He has stayed in the chair when it would have been far easier for him personally to retire.”
FitzGerald is currently chairman of the Conference Board, president of the Advertising Association, co-chair of the Transatlantic Business Dialogue and a member of the Foundation Board of The World Economic Forum.
Reuters has seen an upturn in profits recently, with the latest results showing pre-tax profits up from last year’s loss of £493 million to £49 million (see Reuters Results Beat Expectations As Profit Returns).
Reuters: 020 7250 1122 www.reuters.co.uk
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