Smiths News has been notified that Mr. David Blackwood, chairman and non-executive director of the company, has been appointed as an independent non-executive director and Senior Independent Director-designate of The Go-Ahead Group PLC with effect from 1 January 2022. As part of Mr. Blackwood's appointment to the board of The Go-Ahead Group PLC, he will become a member of the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees and it is anticipated that he will later become Senior Independent Director following The Go-Ahead Group's General Meeting which is expected to take place after the publication of its Annual Report and Accounts 2021.