Big Yellow Group PLC (LON: BYG) has today announced the appointment of Julia Hailes MBE, as Non-Executive Director with effect from 1st March 2020. With over 30 years experience in the sustainability sector, Julia Hailes is a leading opinion former, consultant and speaker on sustainability issues.
Big Yellow has reduced its CO2 emissions by 60% since 2011 notwithstanding a 20% increase in our store footprint of lettable space. We are continuing to improve on our sustainability performance on a wide range of initiatives under the direction of Gabriella Zepf, our Head of Corporate Social Responsibility.
We recognise that businesses will come under increasing scrutiny in this area, from all stakeholder and that more needs to be achieved, which is why we’ve recruited Julia to join our board. Julia has co-written nine environmental books – including The Green Consumer Guide, which sold over 1 million copies – and in 1987 co-founded the environmental think tank SustainAbility, which she left in 1995. Since then she has co-founded Haller, a charity promoting sustainable agriculture in Kenya and has sat on the boards of charities including Keep Britain Tidy, Ecos Trust and CHASE Africa. Between 2001 and 2006, Julia was a non-executive director of Jupiter Global Green Investment Trust.
The Company will form a Board Sustainability Committee to be chaired by Julia which will be tasked with providing oversight regarding strategic environmental objectives, including the setting of deliverable targets with fully costed and accountable implementation plans. In summary, Big Yellow wishes to instil ambitions that are achievable, have integrity and are in balance with other outcomes expected of it including earnings growth.
Julia will also serve on the Company’s Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees.
Aside from the information set out in the announcement above, no further information is required to be disclosed pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.13R.
Nicholas Vetch, Big Yellow Group Executive Chairman commented:
“We are delighted to welcome Julia to the Board. Julia’s appointment builds on our objective of introducing Board members with different and diverse experience and perspectives. I am confident that Julia will add significant value to the Board and the Company.”
