The Rank Group Plc announced the appointment of Jonathon Swaine as retail managing director. Jonathon will join Rank in October 2019 from Fullers, Smith and Turner Plc ('Fullers') where he has been managing director of Fullers Inns since 2012. In August 2019, Catrin White joined the Group's retail business as retail marketing director, following the departure of Olly Raeburn, chief marketing officer. Catrin joined Rank from Sodexo UK where she held marketing director positions across various Sodexo business units. Colin ColeJohnson, director of digital and crosschannel services, left the business in June 2019. As outlined in Rank's offer announcement for Stride, Eitan Boyd and Darren Sims, currently chief executive officer and chief operating officer of Stride, will assume the roles of managing director digital and operations director digital for Rank's digital business following completion. The company announce that Alex Thursby, nonexecutive director, will be appointed as chair, with effect from the conclusion of Rank's upcoming Annual General Meeting on 17 October 2019. Alex will succeed Ian Burke who, as previously announced on 1 May 2019, had notified the board of his intention not to seek reelection at the 2019 AGM. Alex joined the Rank board in August 2017 and has chaired the audit committee since October 2017. Upon his appointment Alex will step down as chair of Rank's audit committee. The search for a new audit committee chair has commenced. The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Kilmorey, PC did not seek reelection at the 2018 Annual General Meeting and therefore stepped down during the year having completed over six years on the Board. On 15 January 2019, Tang Hong Cheong was appointed to the Board. Hong Cheong is a director of Guoco Group Limited, Rank's major shareholder, and has been working with the management of Rank since 2010. The appointment of Tang Hong Cheong has further enhanced the communication between Rank and its major shareholder.