// EG Group finance boss mulled exiting the company after concerns over corporate governance
// Michael Hughes planned to resign and take up a post at a different company at the end of year
// Hughes has now decided to stay with EG Group for an unspecified period
Asda owner EG Group’s chief financial officer Michael Hughes reportedly considered quitting the petrol station empire following its acquisition of the Big 4 grocer.
EG Group is led by the Issa brothers, who are seeking to rapidly expand the business and are currently working on shaking off concerns over corporate governance – which is why Hughes almost exited.
He had planned to resign and take up a post at a different company at the end of the year, which would have raised concerns among EG Group’s debt investors, The Sunday Times reported.
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EG Group most recently had to reassure its investors following its auditor Deloitte’s abrupt resignation.
The billionaire brothers behind the petrol station empire EG Group, Zuber and Mohsin Issa said the resignation came as a result of corporate governance.
Deloitte has since been replaced by Big 4 accounting rival KPMG.
Nevertheless, Hughes has decided to stay with EG Group for an unspecified period.
The company said that Hughes had “not resigned, and nor does he intend to resign, as chief financial officer of EG Group”.
With the backing of private equity firm TDR, EG Group embarked on an acquisition spree that has left the Issa brothers in charge of an empire of more than 6000 petrol stations in 10 countries.
EG Group recently beat US buyout giant Apollo to take over Asda for £6.8 billion, returning the supermarket to UK ownership for the first time in 21 years.
“Michael is a very high-quality and valued member of the senior leadership team that is fully committed to driving the future performance of the group, the continued investment in its systems, and ensuring it is well placed for future corporate activity,” EG Group said.
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