More boardroom departures at funeral provider

Funeral provider Dignity has been hit with two more high profile departures, it revealed this morning (December 14).

Steve Whittern, finance director, and Richard Portman, corporate services director, will both leave the troubled company at the end of the year.

Dean Moore, who was appointed to the Board as a non-executive director in March this year, will become interim chief financial officer upon Whittern’s departure.

Richard Portman’s current functions will be transitioned to report to Clive Whiley, who remains executive chairman.

Andrew Judd, currently director of the group’s funeral operations and a member of the Operating Board, has agreed to join the board as an additional executive director with immediate effect.

Whiley said: “We would like to thank both Steve Whittern and Richard Portman for their contribution to the company over the last twenty years and wish them well in their future endeavours. We also welcome Andrew Judd’s appointment in order to provide funeral operations experience to the main board. Finally, I look forward to working with Dean on completing the transformation strategy and safeguarding the future success of the business.”

The news comes as Dignity continues to look for a new chief executive after Mike McCollum left the firm in April after 20 years’ service.