In the extensive search for the new CFO which resulted in Mr Almanza’s appointment to that role on 1 May 2013, the board sought candidates with the experience and capabilities which would enable them take on the CEO role as part of the group’s succession planning processes. Following a process which considered both internal and external candidates to succeed Mr Buckles, the board has appointed Mr Almanza to the role.

Stuart Curl, the group’s regional CFO for the UK, Ireland and Africa has been appointed acting CFO whilst a search for a new CFO is conducted.

G4S is also announcing today that Eddie Aston will join the group on 8 July to take up the new role of Chief Operating Officer. The creation of this new senior role is one of the actions announced by the group following the board review of the Olympic contract last year. Mr Aston joins the group from DHL where he is currently CEO – Global Sectors.

Commenting on the changes John Connolly, chairman of G4S, said:

“Nick Buckles made a massive contribution to the group over a 28 year career. As CEO he led G4S in the creation of significant shareholder value following the merger of Securicor and Group 4 Falck - building the world’s leading security company. On behalf of the board and everyone at G4S, I thank Nick and wish him the very best of luck for the future.

The board is extremely pleased to have attracted Ashley Almanza to the group. He brings a wealth of experience from working across international borders in complex businesses and we are confident he will provide strong strategic and operational leadership to the group.

We are also confident that in introducing Eddie Aston into the new COO role we will further strengthen our operating processes, including in the key area of risk management.

These senior management changes, together with the recently announced new board appointments, will position the company strongly as we pursue our strategic goals.”

Ashley Almanza added:

“G4S is a great global business with enormous long term potential and I am looking forward to working with a highly experienced and capable management team as we take the business forward. I am also delighted that we have strengthened the team with the appointment of Eddie Aston.”

About Ashley Almanza:

Ashley joined G4S as Group CFO on 1 May 2013.

Ashley, who holds an MBA from London Business School, held a number of senior executive roles at BG Group from 1993 to 2012, including Chief Financial Officer from 2002 to 2011 and Executive Vice President from 2009 to 2012.

As Executive Vice President he was accountable, during 2009 and 2010, for the strategic and operational management of BG Group’s UK, European and Central Asian businesses which had combined annual profits of around US$3 billion. He also led a consortium of global companies through complex government negotiations in Central Asia.

Ashley is currently a non-executive director of Schroders plc and Noble Corporation, and a member of the Advisory Board of Oxford University Centre for Business Taxation. He was previously Chairman of the Hundred Group of Finance Directors.


About Eddie Aston:

Over the last thirteen years Eddie has held senior executive roles with Deutsche Post DHL including CEO of Global Sectors (responsible for improving the customer experience, building internal capabilities and driving margin improvement), CEO of Life Sciences, Healthcare and the Public Sector businesses (where he was also responsible for the NHS Supply Chain business) and a variety of Managing Director roles.

Prior to joining DHL, Eddie worked in a number of senior operational roles at Wincanton, Booker Cash and Carry, Tesco and Unigate.

Eddie has considerable experience and success in running large scale P&L, delivering transformational start ups and business turn around in a service related industry.

Eddie will join the Executive Team which includes the Regional CEOs and other senior functional directors.


About Nick Buckles

Nick was appointed to the board of Securicor plc in 2000 before becoming its Chief Executive in 2002. He was instrumental in creating G4S through the merger of Securicor and the security businesses of Group 4 Falck.

He was the company’s Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer from its formation in 2004 and was appointed Group Chief Executive of G4S plc in July 2005.

Note: Mr Buckles will not be standing for re-election as a director at the company’s annual general meeting to be held on 6 June 2013 and, accordingly, Resolution 9 will not be put to the meeting.