January 2010
Nomination (Chairman)
Remuneration
Nigel Northridge became Chairman of the Company and the Nomination Committee in April 2010. Mr Northridge is currently non-executive chairman of Paddy Power plc and a non-executive director of Inchcape plc and the PGA European Tour. Previously he was senior independent director of Aggreko plc, chief executive of Gallaher Group plc and a non-executive director of Thomas Cook Group plc.
May 2006
Michael Sharp was appointed Chief Executive in September 2011 having previously held the post of Deputy Chief Executive from November 2008 and Chief Operating Officer from May 2006. From 1997 to 2004, Mr Sharp was Trading Director of Debenhams Limited and from January 2004 to May 2006 was Chief Operating Officer of Debenhams Limited. He previously worked in various capacities within the Burton Group, including as managing director of Principles and Racing Green and buying and merchandising director of Topshop and Topman.
May 2006
Chris Woodhouse has been Finance Director of the Company since May 2006. Prior to the IPO in May 2006 he was Finance Director of Debenhams Limited having been appointed in December 2003. Mr Woodhouse is currently Group non-executive chairman of Gondola Group Limited and non-executive chairman of Agent Provocateur Limited. He was previously deputy chairman of Halfords Group and commercial director and deputy chief executive of Homebase Group. He is a former finance director of Birthdays Group and Superdrug Stores Plc. Mr Woodhouse is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and an Associate of the Association of Corporate Treasurers.
April 2006
Remuneration
Audit (Chairman)
Nomination
Dennis Millard assumed the role of senior independent director in April 2010. He is also Chairman of the Audit Committee. Mr Millard is currently chairman of Halfords Group plc and Smiths News plc and a non‑executive director of Xchanging PLC and Premier Farnell plc. His former appointments include group finance director of Cookson Group plc, finance director of Medeva plc and non-executive director of Exel plc, Arc International and EAG Ltd. Mr Millard is a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.
August 2009
Remuneration
Audit
Nomination
Martina King is a non-executive director of Capita Group plc, Cineword PLC and Trade Doubler AB and managing director of Aurasma, a division of Autonomy PLC. Her former appointments include nonexecutive director of Johnston Press Plc and Independent Media Distribution PLC, managing director, Europe of Yahoo Limited and sales director and then managing director of Capital Radio. Ms King is also a trustee of Coram and Suffolk Foundation and a governor of Seckford Foundation and Woodbridge School.
April 2006
Remuneration (Chairman)
Audit
Nomination
Adam Crozier was appointed Chairman of the Remuneration Committee in April 2009. Mr Crozier is currently chief executive of ITV plc. Previously he was chief executive of Royal Mail Holdings plc and the Football Association Limited, a non-executive director of Camelot Group plc and has held a number of senior positions at Saatchi & Saatchi UK including joint chief executive.
October 2010
Remuneration
Audit
Nomination
Mark Rolfe is currently a non-executive director of Barratt Developments plc, Hornby plc and The Sage Group plc. He is also chairman of Lane, Clark and Peacock LLP. Mr Rolfe previously worked in various finance and executive roles within Gallaher Group plc including as finance director for seven years until the company was acquired in 2007.
August 2009
Remuneration
Audit
Nomination
Sophie Turner Laing is currently managing director, entertainment, news and broadcast operations at British Sky Broadcasting Group plc and on the board of AETN UK and NGC Network International LLC. In addition, she is a vice president of BAFTA, a trustee of The Media Trust and governor of the National Film and Television School. Her previous roles include controller, programme acquisition at the BBC and vice president, broadcasting at Flextech (now Virgin Media Television). Ms Turner Laing was also co-founder and managing director of HIT Entertainment PLC.