Richard Cousins and his family have died in a tragic seaplane crash in Sydney on New Years Eve.
Companies: Compass Group PLC
Compass Group (LON: CPG) has sadly announced its long-standing Chief Executive Richard Cousins has died in a New Years Eve seaplane accident whilst on holiday in Australia.
Six people including Mr Cousins, his sons Edward and Will, his fiancee Emma Bowden, her daughter Heather and pilot Gareth Morgan all perished as the chartered plane dove into a river north of Sydney on Sunday evening. The family were returning to the city from dinner.
Mr Cousins was due to stand down from his post as CEO on March 31st after 11 years at the helm.
Compass' statements this morning announced Dominic Blakemore's appointment of CEO would be brought forward from April 1st to today.
Group Chairman Paul Walsh said Mr Cousins was "known and respected for his great humanity and a no-nonsense style that transformed Compass into one of Britain's leading companies."
Mr Walsh also said:
"The thoughts of everyone at Compass are with Richard's family and friends, and we extend our deepest sympathies to them."
Compass, who have a Market Cap of over £25bn and Revenues of almost £23bn in 2017 saw its shares trading slightly down on the morning of the Company's announcements.
