*

Quinn's US experience seen as key for North American

market

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Quinn slated for a potential $33 million share award

*

Court steps down as chair after AGM on February 2

(Adds outgoing chair's quote and shareholder comments in

paragraph 5 and 7, details throughout)

Jan 19 (Reuters) - Travel ‌retail group WH Smith ( WHTPF )

named ex-Balfour Beatty chief Leo Quinn as its executive chair

on Monday, replacing Annette ​Court in a leadership shakeup aimed

at revitalising the company and restoring ‍investor confidence.

Quinn, who led the British construction and infrastructure

company ⁠for more than ⁠a decade and has over 20 years of

experience leading UK public companies, joins WH Smith ( WHTPF ) ‌at a

crucial time.

Shares of the London-based company ​tumbled in the second

half of 2025 after accounting errors in its North America

business led to delayed annual results, an ⁠audit probe by

Britain's Financial Conduct Authority ‍and the ​exit of its

then-CEO.

Quinn also brings seven years of U.S. experience - valuable

for WH Smith ( WHTPF ) as it continues strengthening its leadership team

with executives ‍familiar with the North American travel retail

market, a key growth region for the company.

"The Board strongly believes that Leo's record of leadership

and significant experience of successfully delivering

transformation for large international companies make him the

right candidate to deliver the Group's return to stability and

long-term growth strategy," outgoing ​Chair ‍Court said in a

statement.

Quinn is slated to receive a potential 24.5 million pound

($32.8 million) share award, if he doubles the company's ​value

over five years, in addition to his 360,000-pound base salary.

WH Smith's ( WHTPF ) biggest shareholder Causeway Capital supported

Quinn's appointment and said it believed he was the right

executive to lead the travel retailer.

"WH Smith ( WHTPF ) urgently needs a leader who is disciplined on

capital spending and focused on rebuilding North American

margins," said Jonathan Eng, a portfolio manager ​at Los

Angeles-based Causeway.

Court will step down after the company's annual general

meeting on February 2, with senior independent director Simon

Emeny taking charge in an interim capacity until Quinn joins in

April.

($1 = 0.7465 ‍pounds)

(Reporting by Yamini Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich

and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)