VP chief executive to step down next month
Vp plc, an equipment rental specialist, says its group chief executive, Neil Stothard, will retire from the group at the end of September 2023.
He has been with Vp since 1997 when he joined as group finance director, later becoming managing director in 2004 before transitioning to chief executive.
Anna Bielby, the group’s chief financial officer will become chief executive on 1 September 2023 and will work with Stothard until then to facilitate an orderly handover.
She has been CFO of Harrogate-headquartered Vp since 1 January 2023. Her previous roles include interim CFO at Lookers plc, CFO of KCOM Group PLC and a director at PwC. Vp has begun recruiting for a new CFO.
Jeremy Pilkington, chairman, said: “I want to record my personal thanks to Neil for his service to the company and me since joining Vp in 1997 as group finance director and in 2004 assuming the role of managing director and subsequently chief executive.
“Working with Neil to exit the general plant hire sector to focus on a specialist rental offering created the platform for our continued success and growth.
“Neil’s dedication and strong leadership has been central to Vp’s prosperity and enables us to look to the future with confidence and optimism.
“My fellow directors and I would like to welcome Anna as our new CEO. Anna has been a great addition to the Board since her appointment as CFO in January this year and our decision to appoint Anna as chief executive was an easy one.
“In January 2023 the Board was strengthened with the appointments of Mark Bottomley and Stuart Watson as non-executive directors and I believe we have the right Board and wider team in place to continue to drive the business forward.
“We have achieved a great deal over the years with Neil at the helm and on behalf of everyone at Vp I want to wish him the very best in his retirement.”
