BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust plc announced the appointment of Ms. Susan Platts-Martin as a non-executive Director of the company with effect from 21 April 2016. Ms. Platts-Martin will also serve as a member of the company's Audit Committee and Nomination and Management Engagement Committees. She brings to the Board considerable knowledge of investment companies and investment management generally.

She was the first head of investment trusts at Fidelity Worldwide Investment. She has experience of both open and closed ended funds having also been director of product development and head of fund accounting at Fidelity. The company also announced that Mrs. Gillian Nott, a non-executive Director of the company, has confirmed that she will not stand for re-election at the company's next Annual General Meeting on 9 June 2016, and will retire as a Director with effect from that date.