Hargreaves Lansdown plc announced the appointment of Alison Platt to the role of Chair of the Board and as a Non-Executive Director, subject to customary regulatory approvals. Alison will succeed Deanna Oppenheimer, who will be stepping down from her role as Chair of the Board and a Director of HL at HL's Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 8 December 2023. She will have served as Chair for six years.

Alison is currently Chair of Dechra Pharmaceuticals plc. She is also a Non-Executive Director of Tesco plc and the Chair of general insurer, Ageas UK. Alison will join HL's Board in early 2024.

Alison was Chair of L&G Financial Advice from 2019 to 2022 and CEO of Countrywide from 2014 to 2018. Prior to that, she held several senior roles at BUPA, both in the UK and Internationally. Following the AGM, during the period to Alison's regulatory approval as the new permanent Chair, the Board has confirmed the appointment of Penny James as Interim Chair.

She is currently the Senior Independent Director (SID). Penny will be replaced in this position by Andrea Blance as SID. These appointments are effective from 8 December 2023 and on the appointment of the new permanent Chair, each will revert to their prior Board position.

Penny James will chair the HL 2023 AGM. Having remained on the Board to support the Chair selection process, Roger Perkin has informed the Board that he will also not be standing for re-election at the AGM and will be stepping down from the HL plc Board on 8 December 2023. Roger has also served on the Board for six years, including as Chair of the Board Audit Committee.

Alison's appointment follows a comprehensive recruitment process supported by an external executive search firm. She will join and chair the Nomination & Governance Committee of the HL plc Board upon her appointment as Non-Executive Director, subject to regulatory approval.