Neil Stothard to retire from VP plc

Neil Stothard is to retire as CEO of VP plc at the end of September after a 26 year career with the business. He will be replaced by current CFO, Anna Bielby, who joined VP in January this year.

Stothard started at VP as group finance director in 1997 and became managing director in 2004 and then chief executive. It was under Stothard’s leadership that VP evolved from a general plant hire business into the rental specialist it is now.

Neil Stothard retires from VP at the end of September after a 26 year career with the UK rental business.

Bielby will become chief executive on 1 September and work with Stothard until he leaves. She previously worked as Interim CFO at car sales business Lookers plc, CFO of telecoms company KCOM Group PLC and a director at PwC. VP said it had started recruitment efforts for a new CFO.

Jeremy Pilkington, chairman of Vp, paid tribute to Stothard; “I want to record my personal thanks to Neil for his service to the Company and me since joining Vp in 1997…Working with Neil to exit the general plant hire sector to focus on a specialist rental offering created the platform for our continued success and growth.

“Neil’s dedication and strong leadership has been central to Vp’s prosperity and enables us to look to the future with confidence and optimism.”

Anna Bielby, who becomes chief executive of VP plc on 1 September 2023. (Photo: VP website)

Pilkington said it had been an easy decision to appoint Bielby as the new CEO; “My fellow directors and I would like to welcome Anna as our new CEO. Anna has been a great addition to the Board since her appointment as CFO in January this year”.

He added; “We have achieved a great deal over the years with Neil at the helm and on behalf of everyone at Vp I want to wish him the very best in his retirement.”

VP is one of the largest 15 equipment rental businesses in Europe, with revenues in its most recent financial year of around €400 million. It runs a number of specialist rental businesses for products such as telehandlers, shoring, temporary roadways and tool hire, each under its own brand.