Countrywide announced that Peter Long has stepped down from his role as Executive Chairman and has retired as a director of the Company with immediate effect. Further, Paul Creffield, Group Managing Director, has indicated his intention to retire from the Company with effect from 24 November 2021. Mr. Creffield will retire as a director at the end of March 2021, following which he will remain available for the remainder of his notice period in order to support a smooth transition process. In the interim, Mr. Watson is stepping up as Acting Non-Executive Chairman, and Natalie Ceeney CBE, currently Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee, will become Senior Independent Non-Executive Director. As a result of the above changes, Rupert Gavin, Non-Executive Director, will join the Group Audit & Risk Committee (GARC), Amanda Rendle, Non-Executive Director will join the Remuneration Committee, in each case with immediate effect, and David Watson will become the chair of the Nomination Committee subject to approval by the Financial Conduct Authority.