Funeral services provider Dignity has appointed John Castagno as its new chairman with effect from last Friday.
The company said Castagno is an experienced non-executive director, with “extensive” experience in support industries and the financial services sector.
Chief executive Gary Channon said: “His significant financial and commercial experience will be invaluable as the company’s independent non-executive chairman. I very much look forward to working with him in my new role as CEO, both on the future success of the business and further appointments to the board.”
In April, then-chairman Clive Whiley was ousted by Dignity’s shareholders, who voted 55% in favour of his removal from the board after a year and a half as chairman. They also voted 61% for Gary Channon, who represents Dignity’s biggest investor Phoenix Asset Management, to join as an executive director.
Dignity’s board had urged shareholders to vote against both resolutions proposed by Phoenix. The activist investor wanted to replace Whiley as executive chairman with Channon, Phoenix’s chief investment officer, but Dignity said he was not qualified.
