Rentokil Initial CFO plans to retire Jan. 31, 2027
If no permanent successor has taken up the role by Paul Edgecliffe-Johnson’s retirement, Sarah Sergeant is set to become interim CFO on February 1, 2027.
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Form Type
6-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Rentokil Initial plc (RTO) announced that Chief Financial Officer Paul Edgecliffe-Johnson intends to retire from his full-time executive role and step down from the Board effective January 31, 2027, for family health reasons. He will remain with the Company and its Executive Leadership Team in a senior advisory capacity.
The Board has begun a formal search for a permanent successor. If a successor has not taken up the position by Edgecliffe-Johnson’s retirement, Group Financial Controller Sarah Sergeant will assume the CFO role on an interim basis starting February 1, 2027. Sergeant has held her current role since December 2024, previously served as CFO of Watkins Jones plc, and spent 14 years in senior finance roles at Compass Group. Remuneration details will be disclosed on the Company’s website in due course and in its Annual Report and Accounts.
Key Figures
CFO retirement and Board departure: January 31, 2027
Interim CFO role begins: February 1, 2027
Group Financial Controller role held since: December 2024
+3 more
6 metrics
CFO retirement and Board departure
January 31, 2027
Effective date
Interim CFO role begins
February 1, 2027
Sarah Sergeant assumes the role if a permanent successor has not taken it up by Paul Edgecliffe-Johnson’s retirement
Group Financial Controller role held since
December 2024
Sarah Sergeant’s current role
Compass Group finance experience
14 years
Sarah Sergeant’s previous senior finance roles
Employees
c.63,400 people
Rentokil Initial plc
Countries
90 countries
Rentokil Initial plc operates in
Key Terms
interim basis, senior advisory capacity, Section 430(2B)
3 terms
interim basis technical
"assumed on an interim basis by Sarah Sergeant"
senior advisory capacity technical
"remain with the Company in a senior advisory capacity"
Section 430(2B) regulatory
"in compliance with Section 430(2B) of the Companies Act 2006"
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
When is Rentokil Initial CFO Paul Edgecliffe-Johnson retiring?
Paul Edgecliffe-Johnson intends to retire from his full-time executive role and step down from the Board effective January 31, 2027. He will remain with the Company and its Executive Leadership Team in a senior advisory capacity.
Who will be Rentokil Initial’s interim CFO?
Sarah Sergeant will assume the CFO role on an interim basis starting February 1, 2027 if a permanent successor has not taken up the position by Paul Edgecliffe-Johnson’s retirement. Sergeant is currently the Company’s Group Financial Controller, a role she has held since December 2024.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
___________________
FORM 6-K
__________________
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the month of October 2026
Commission File Number: 001-41524
___________________________________
Rentokil Initial plc
(Registrant’s name)
___________________________________
Compass House
Manor Royal
Crawley
West Sussex RH10 9PY
United Kingdom
(Address of principal executive office)
_____________________________________
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ☒ Form
40-F ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is
submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T
Rule 101(b)(1): ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is
submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T
Rule 101(b)(7): ☐
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Directorate
change dated 22 October 2026
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THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION AND THE PERSON
RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT IS RACHEL CANHAM, GROUP GENERAL COUNSEL AND COMPANY
SECRETARY.
Directorate Change: Retirement of Chief Financial
Officer
Rentokil Initial plc (the "Company") (FTSE / NYSE: "RTO") today
announces that Paul Edgecliffe-Johnson, Chief Financial Officer
(CFO), has informed the Board of his intention to retire from his
full-time executive role and step down from the Board with effect
from 31 January 2027 for family health reasons.
Paul will remain with the Company and as part of the Executive
Leadership Team in a senior advisory capacity following his
departure from the Board to ensure an orderly succession and
continuity of financial leadership.
The Board has initiated a formal search process to identify and
appoint a permanent successor.
Should a permanent successor not have taken up the position by the
time of Paul's retirement, starting 1 February 2027, the role of
Chief Financial Officer will be assumed on an interim basis by
Sarah Sergeant, ensuring a seamless transition. Sarah is a highly
experienced finance executive, currently the Company's Group
Financial Controller, a role she has held since December 2024. She
previously served as Chief Financial Officer of Watkins Jones plc,
following 14 years at Compass Group in a broad range of senior
finance roles.
Thérèse Esperdy, Chair of Rentokil Initial plc,
commented:
"On behalf of the entire Board, I want to express our support and
gratitude to Paul. While we are sad to see him retire, we
fully understand and respect his decision to prioritise his family.
Paul has brought strong financial discipline and strategic focus to
Rentokil Initial. We are pleased Paul has agreed to remain
with the business as a senior advisor so that we continue to
benefit from his counsel as we transition to a permanent successor,
the search for which is already underway."
Mike Duffy, Chief Executive of Rentokil Initial plc,
added:
"Paul has been an outstanding partner since I took over as CEO and
while I am naturally sad to see him retire, I am pleased that Paul
will continue to support us. His deep financial expertise,
analytical rigour and strategic guidance have been invaluable to me
and the Board. We entirely respect Paul's decision to retire at
this time and we wish him and his family the very best. Sarah's
experience, skills and detailed understanding of Rentokil make her
ideally suited to take on the role of Interim CFO. I look forward
to working alongside her."
Paul Edgecliffe-Johnson, Chief Financial Officer,
said:
"It has been a privilege to serve as Chief Financial Officer of
Rentokil Initial. However, for family health reasons, I have
decided to retire from full-time executive life. I am grateful for
the support from Thérèse, Mike and the Board, and I have every confidence
that the business is well-positioned to deliver on its strategic
objectives to accelerate organic growth, improve margins and free
cash flow and deliver on the clear opportunity for shareholder
value creation. I look forward to continuing to work with the team
in an advisory capacity to ensure an orderly
transition."
Remuneration details will be disclosed on the Company's website in
due course in compliance with Section 430(2B) of the Companies Act
2006, and the Directors' Remuneration Report within the Company's
Annual Report and Accounts.
Enquiries:
For further information, please contact:
Investors / Analysts:
Heather Wood, Head of Investor Relations, Rentokil Initial plc, +44
7808 098793
Jamie Lewis, Senior Manager Investor Relations, Rentokil Initial
plc, +44 7341
071944
Media:
Malcolm Padley, Director of Communications, Rentokil Initial plc,
+44 7788 978 199
About Rentokil Initial plc
Rentokil Initial plc is a global leader in Pest Control and Hygiene
& Wellbeing services. It employs c.63,400 people in 90
countries.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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Date:
22 October 2026
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RENTOKIL INITIAL PLC
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/s/
Rachel Canham
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Name:
Rachel Canham
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Title:
Group General Counsel and Company Secretary
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