Maude to step down as Mission chairman

Tory MP Francis Maude is to step down as chairman of the Mission Marketing Group to focus on the general election, which is due to take place by next June.

Francis Maude
Tory MP Francis Maude

Maude has been chairman of the parent company of Bray Leino and RLA group since it listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) in 2006.

The group says it will appoint a replacement “in the coming months”. Maude will officially step down at the end of 2009.

The group posted a pre-tax profit increase of 37% to £7.2m last year on turnover of £104.2m, up 31% on 2007.

New business wins in the period included Scottish Government, UK Border Agency, Royal Mint, Remington, Breakthrough Breast Cancer and Logica.

Maude says he is “proud” of the growth the company has achieved under his chairmanship, which has seen it expand from a “£5m turnover agency” to a group comprising seven “major” agencies covering nine sectors, with annual sales of £104m.