Chris Sander has been appointed CEO of the Johnson Service Group with immediate effect. John Talbot, whose leadership successfully transformed the Group's fortunes, remains as executive chairman but has informed the Board of his intention to stand down at the end of April 2014.
Sander started his career in the laundry industry with a holiday job while still at school and on leaving school became a trainee manager. He joined Johnson Service Group in 1984 and has been managing director of the Textile Rental business since 2008. In 2012, when the drycleaning business was restructured, Sander took on responsibility for this as part of a combined Textile Services division.
Talbot has been executive chairman for over five years. He led the board in refocussing the business on Textile Services while significantly reducing debt and strengthening the balance sheet.
The management changes come as Johnson Service Group issued its pre-close trading update, announcing a full year profit before tax in line with expectations and that net debt was expected to have been reduced to below £25million at the end of December 2013.
