Hays plc announced today that Chairman Alan Thomson died following a rapid deterioration caused by a medical condition. Thomson had been appointed to the board in October 2010, overseeing the UK-based firm that ranks as the sixth-largest global staffing provider.

“Alan has provided the board and me with immense support and leadership in his eight years with the company, and it is with tremendous sadness that we learn of his untimely passing,” Chief Executive Alistair Cox said. “His guidance, wisdom and humor will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate to have known him and our condolences go out to his family at this sad time.”

Thomson also held senior executive and board positions at some of the UK’s biggest industrial companies including Smiths Group and Johnson Matthey. Thomson is also a former Chairman of Polypipe Group plc and Bodycote plc and a past President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. At the time of his passing he was also non-executive chair at Oxford Instruments, a supplier of high-tech measurement tools.

Senior Independent Director Andrew Martin will act as nonexecutive chairman on an interim basis. Martin, who joined the board in July 2017, had served as group chief operating officer for Europe and Japan for Compass Group plc until 2015. He had served as that company's group finance director from 2004 to 2012.