Directorate change
January 22 2004 - 11:17AM
UK Regulatory
The Second Alliance Trust PLC
The Second Alliance Trust PLC announces under Listing Rule 16.7 (c) that
Mrs Sheila Ruckley, who has been an executive director of the Company
since November 2000, is to assume responsibility, with immediate effect,
as Director of Risk Management. Mrs. Ruckley retains her
responsibilities for investor relations.
The text of the press release associated with the change of
responsibility follows:
PRESS RELEASE.
The Alliance Trust PLC and The Second Alliance Trust PLC, the global
investment trust companies based in Dundee, today announced that Mrs
Sheila Ruckley is to assume responsibility as Director of Risk
Management with immediate effect.
Sheila Ruckley (54) has been with the Alliance Trusts since 1988. A
solicitor, she held office as Company Secretary of the Alliance Trusts
from 1989 to 2000, when she was appointed a director of the Trusts with
responsibility for Investor Relations. In her time at the organisation
she has also held office as compliance officer of the banking and
financial services subsidiary, Alliance Trust Savings Limited, and has
had a close involvement with the development of that company's retail
savings products, including being responsible, in 1987, for the
development and introduction of the self-invested personal pension,
which was the first low cost SIPP in the UK and is still the only one
provided and administered in house by an investment trust organisation.
Commenting on the change in executive responsibility, the Chief
Executive, Alan Harden, said:
"This organisation's objective is to provide the core investment for
those who want to build up a long term store of increasing value. The
importance of risk management has always been recognised and the proper
evaluation of risks and their management carried out. We attach such
importance to this function that we now consider appropriate that an
executive director assume responsibility for overseeing risk management
in the organisation and ensuring that it continues to be embedded.
Sheila, with her professional capabilities, wide understanding of the
organisation and the industry environment, and sensitivity to our
stockholder base, is well placed to assume this role."
Bruce Johnston, non-executive chairman of both investment trust
companies, added:
"The non-executive directors and I are particularly pleased to see this
appointment which evidences the commitment of the board to this
important function."
Sheila Ruckley, commenting, said:
"I am very pleased to accept this role which is all part of our
continuing focus and being prepared in the environment in which we work"
Notes to editors:
(1) The Alliance Trust PLC and The Second Alliance Trust PLC
are long established global growth investment trusts
with net assets of �1.5 billion and �500 million
respectively. They were both formed in the 1880s and
continue to be self-managed, operating from Dundee. They
have a very high proportion of retail investors,
charities and trusts as stockholders and as holders
through products provided by Alliance Trust Savings.
(2) Alliance Trust Savings, which is authorised and
regulated by the Financial Services Authority, is owned
by the Alliance Trust and Second Alliance Trust. It is a
bank which provides the low cost, Select range of PEPs,
ISAs, Investment Plans and Pensions. Formed in 1986
Alliance Trust Savings now has over 36,000 customers and
administers over �1.2 billion of customer assets. Over
16% of the stock of the Alliance Trust and 25% of that
of the Second Alliance Trust is now held through these
products, which also allow self-select investment in
other UK securities as well as in a selection of bond
funds. Sheila Ruckley is also a director of Alliance
Trust Savings.
(3) Sheila Ruckley is available for comment on 01382 201700
or contact Citigate Smarts as under:
Citigate Smarts
Karen Morrison Tel: +44 (0) 141 229 7634
Rachel Collins Tel: +44 (0) 141 229 7635
Flora Martin Tel: +44 (0) 141 222 2040