SIG appoints former Kier turnaround chief Simon Kesterton as new CFO

He takes up the role on 1 May 2026, succeeding Ian Ashton, who will depart at the end of May following a short handover period.

Kesterton brings more than two decades of senior financial leadership across major listed groups, including six years as CFO at Kier Group, where he helped steer the contractor through one of the most significant financial resets in its history.

Joining in 2019 when the business faced mounting debt and operational strain, he played a central role in restoring cash discipline, reshaping procurement and IT systems, and returning the group to a more stable footing before stepping down in December 2025.

Before Kier, he spent six years as CFO of RPC Group, working alongside current SIG chief executive Pim Vervaat, and he currently serves as a non‑executive director and audit committee chair at Mpac Group.

Vervaat said the board was “delighted” to secure Kesterton, adding: “He has demonstrable experience of improving businesses to deliver shareholder value. The Board looks forward to working with Simon on SIG’s growth and development.”

The announcement coincides with SIG’s latest trading update, which reported a 5% like‑for‑like sales decline to £614 million in Q1 2026. The group cited “subdued” demand and “unusually poor” early‑year weather, though trading improved in March and cash flow outperformed expectations.