AIM-listed Next 15 Group plc has appointed Mark Astaire as chair designate.

After serving nine years on the board, the last five years of which were as chair, Penny Ladkin-Brand will not be standing for re-election at the London-based MarTech‘s Annual General Meeting.

Astaire joined the board as a non-executive director in February 2025. He is a former chairman of corporate broking at Barclays and head of corporate broking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

He is also a NED at Cavendish Financial plc, a member of the Sky News board, a member of the University of Liverpool Management School Advisory Board, and a trustee of the Holburne Museum in Bath.

Next 15’s COO Jonathan Peachey stepped down late last year after long-serving boss Tim Dyson retired last June after 33 years in charge.

The firm also shut down its Silicon Valley venturing arm, Mach49, after it uncovered ‘serious potential misconduct’ within the subsidiary. However it confirmed late last year that it is in discussions to sell its PR and marketing divisions amid media speculation of a potential £230 million swoop.