Connect Group CEO to be Jos Opdeweegh

The new CEO of Connect Group is to be Jozef (Jos) Opdeweegh.

Earlier this year the current CEO Mark Cashmore announced plans to step down to take on another opportunity. Cashmore has been CEO since the company emerged from WH Smith in 2006.

The new Connect Group CEO began his career in financial services and after a period in several senior finance positions he was CFO and MD for Europe at Syncreon he became Chief Executive of the company. He moved to the role of CEO of Americold Realty Trust, which is the biggest frozen and temperature controlled logistics company in the world.

Between 2012 and 15 Opdeweegh led the carve-out and subsequent sale of Caterpillar Logistics Services (now known as Neovia Logistics) during which period he was also a non-executive director of Interline Brands. In April 2016, Jos was Chief Executive Officer and Board Director of Premier Farnell PLC, a FTSE listed specialised high service distributor of technology products, until its sale to Avnet Inc. in October of the same year.

Commenting on his new role Opdeweegh said: “This is an exciting time to be joining the Group. With two strong brands and a leading position in each of our markets there is every opportunity to drive an improvement in performance and establish a strategy that delivers value for all stakeholders.”

Gary Kennedy, Chairman of Connect Group, commented: “I am looking forward to working with Jos to deliver our plans for strategic turnaround, profit performance and capital management. Jos brings a wealth of experience in delivering value driven strategic change. A results driven executive, his energy and relentless focus on delivery will be central to our turnaround and in sustaining performance improvement. I am grateful to Mark Cashmore for his invaluable contribution during his tenure.”

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