It is with sadness that AM has learned of the death of Carter & Carter founder Phillip Carter in a helicopter crash early Wednesday morning.

Mr Carter was returning from Liverpool to Wansford, near Peterborough, after watching the Liverpool vs Chelsea football match on Tuesday.

In this week’s issue of AM (cover date May 4) we have a feature on Carter & Carter following an interview with Nigel Kirkham, who had recently taken over day-to-day responsibility for the training services provider from Mr Carter. The feature was written before Mr Carter’s death and highlights the growth of Carter & Carter and its future plans.

AM sends its condolences to Mr Carter’s family and friends.

An official statement was released by Carter & Carter last night.

Phillip J. Carter
02/05/2007

Pending formal confirmation by the relevant authorities, it is with deep sadness that the company announces that Phillip Carter, group chief executive of Carter & Carter Group is missing and is believed to have been killed in a helicopter crash in the early hours of this morning together with his son, Andrew, a family friend Jonathan Waller and the pilot Stephen Holdich.

Our thoughts and condolences are with Phillip’s wife Judith, daughter Natalya and the family and friends of all those involved in this tragic accident.

Peter Marples, group business development director, John Green, group finance director and Nigel Kirkham, chief operating officer, said: “Phil was an inspirational leader, and this was recently recognised by his being named UK Entrepreneur of the Year 2006. The company was also awarded the New Listed Company of the Year in 2005. Above all Phil was a great friend, a strong family man, and will be deeply and sadly missed by all those who knew him.”

The board has met and announce that, pending further discussions on the permanent successor to Phillip Carter, Rodney Westhead, non-executive chairman, will assume the responsibilities of group chief executive on an interim basis.

Mr Westhead said: “Phil was an inspirational leader who established a clear strategy for the business and at the same time developed a dynamic and capable team around him. That team will now continue to develop the vision and drive the business forward.”

Further updates will be issued on the Carter & Carter website – www.carterandcartergroup.com.

Rodney Westhead, chairman