Alliance Trust PLC announced that Sarah Bates and Dean Buckley have been appointed as independent non-executive directors of the Company and will join the Board with immediate effect. Karl Sternberg, the Company’s Senior Independent Director, will stand down from the Board on 30 June 2021. Sarah will succeed Karl in that role from that date. Sarah is a past Chair of the Association of Investment Companies and has been involved in the UK savings and investment industry in different roles for over 30 years. Sarah is currently Chair of Polar Capital Technology Trust plc, a Non-Executive Director of Worldwide Healthcare Trust PLC, Chair of the John Lewis Partnership Trust for Pensions and an independent member of the investment committees of the BBC Pension Scheme and of the University Superannuation Scheme. Sarah was a founder of the Diversity Project and is currently Chair of the Diversity Project Charity and an Ambassador for Chapter Zero. Dean has enjoyed a successful career in fund management having previously been Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Widows Investment Partnership and HSBC Asset Management UK and Middle East as well as holding senior fund management positions at Prudential Portfolio Managers. Dean was also previously a Non-Executive Director of Saunderson House Limited. Dean is currently Chair of the Audit Committee, Remuneration Committee and Senior Independent Director of JP Morgan Asia Growth & Income plc, Senior Independent Director of Fidelity Special Values PLC and a Non-Executive Director of Baillie Gifford & Co Limited and Smith & Williamson Fund Administration Limited.