Paul Forman
Non-Executive Chair
Date of Appointment
Joined the Board on 1st July 2023
Independent
Yes
Committee Membership
Nomination and Governance Committee (Chair)
Skills and Experience
Paul is an experienced director of both listed and private equity-backed businesses, gained in a variety of executive and non-executive roles. He has successfully driven growth, strategic change and fostered high performance, highly engaged workforces. His experience includes Chief Executive roles at three FTSE250 businesses: Essentra Plc, Coats Group Plc and Low & Bonar Plc. He is also a former non-executive director of Brammer Plc.
External Appointments
Senior Independent Director at Tate & Lyle Plc and Chair at FSI Ltd, the private equity-backed flavours and fragrances business.
Robert Parker
Chief Executive
Date of Appointment
Joined the Board on 10 April 2007 as Chief Financial Officer.
Appointed as Chief Executive Officer with effect from 29 November 2019
Independent
No
Committee Membership
None
Skills and Experience
Rob has gained significant knowledge of the Group and the sector in which it operates from over 15 years of experience on the Board as, initially, Chief Financial Officer and, since 2019, Chief Executive Officer, during which he has contributed to and successfully led its expansion and steered it through the challenges of Covid-19. He has deep experience of the sector which, with his financial expertise, plays a fundamental role in driving the Group’s strategy, purpose and vision. He chairs the Group Health and Safety and Environmental Committee. He is a qualified accountant and has held senior finance roles with the Boots Group and Savers Health & Beauty Limited.
External Appointments
None
Stephen Hopson
Chief Financial Officer
Date of Appointment
Joined the Board on 2 November 2020
Independent
No
Committee Membership
None
Skills and Experience
Stephen provides financial expertise and a significant management and commercial contribution to develop and execute the Group’s strategy. He ensures that there is a robust and effective financial control environment, compliant with regulatory requirements, and is responsible for all areas of finance, IT and Group legal matters. He joined the Board from Molson Coors Beverage Company, where he was Director of Central Finance for Western Europe. Before this, Stephen spent five years at Travis Perkins Plc, including three years as Finance Director for BSS, and has also held senior finance roles at Mitchells & Butlers Plc where, amongst other functions, he held responsibility for Investor Relations. Stephen is a CIMA-qualified management accountant and holds an MBA.
External Appointments
None
Keith Down
Senior Independent Director
Date of Appointment
Joined the Board on 2 February 2015
Independent
Yes
Committee Membership
Audit Committee (Chair), Nomination and Governance Committee, Remuneration Committee
Skills and Experience
Keith, a Chartered Accountant, is a highly experienced finance leader, with a wealth of experience gained from various sectors, including retail and consumer, covering accounting, audit and governance, together with significant digital and commercial experience. He has also held responsibility for and management of head office functions, including property, IT, marketing and legal and secretariat, all of which are relevant for the Board. His former positions include Group Finance Director of Selfridges Group, CFO of Dunelm Group Plc, Go-Ahead Group Plc and JD Wetherspoons Plc and senior roles at Tesco Plc, where he was responsible for all Tesco digital operations, and T & S Stores Plc.
External Appointments
Senior Independent Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of Tortilla Mexican Grill Plc.
Diana Breeze
Non-Executive Director
Date of Appointment
Joined the Board on 1 February 2021
Independent
Yes
Committee Membership
Remuneration Committee (Chair), Audit Committee, Nomination and Governance Committee
Skills and Experience
Diana brings extensive and relevant expertise from senior roles in the retail, consumer, logistics and property sectors. She was a consultant with Accenture between 1996 and 2003 and has held senior HR roles at J Sainsbury PLC before becoming Group HR Director at Land Securities PLC and, subsequently, Director of Group Human Resources at Bunzl Plc, which is her current position. Diana has extensive experience on all people-related matters, including organisational development, executive succession, reward structures and diversity and inclusion policies and governance. In her current role, she also has executive responsibility for Sustainability and is experienced in implementing all aspects of the Environmental, Social and Governance agenda.
External Appointments
Human Resources and member of the Executive Committee at Bunzl Plc where she attends meetings of the Remuneration and Nomination Committees.
Kari Daniels
Non-Executive Director
Date of Appointment
Joined the Board on 1 April 2021
Independent
Yes
Committee Membership
Audit Committee, Nomination and Governance Committee, Remuneration Committee, Employee Engagement Director
Skills and Experience
Kari contributes considerable commercial, marketing, digital, retail and branding expertise to the Board She had over 20 years in executive leadership roles at Tesco where she was CEO of Tesco Ireland for four years and spent three years as UK Commercial Director. Prior to Tesco she held marketing and leadership positions at SC Johnson, Wella and Superdrug. She was formerly President of the Irish Grocers Benevolent Fund, an Advisory Board member of 30% Club Ireland, Board member of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation and member of Business in the Community – Ireland.
External Appointments
Kari is a member of the PIC (Council) of the IGD (Institute of Grocery Distribution (UK)) and Advisory Board member of WiTHTL (Women in Hospitality and Leisure (UK)).
Denise Jagger
Non-Executive Director
Date of Appointment
Joined the Board on 1 February 2024
Independent
Yes
Committee Membership
n/a
Skills and Experience
Denise brings extensive commercial, legal and governance experience gained within a range of sectors including retail, together with a long standing commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion. Denise has held executive and non-executive roles including Chair in a range of organisations including Plcs, private limited companies and charities and has worked in growth businesses and those undergoing structural and cultural change. Denise began her career as a corporate finance lawyer at Slaughter and May before a board level career at Asda Wal Mart followed by her role as partner in charge of client development at international law firm Eversheds Sutherland, all of which nurtured her passion for customer service and effective colleague involvement.
External Appointments
Senior Independent Director at newspaper publisher, Reach plc and Trustee, National Trust. Denise is a member of the Advisory Panel of Into University.
Joanne Steer
Head of Legal and Company Secretary
Joanne was appointed Head of Legal and Company Secretary with effect from May 2023. Previously she has led legal functions and acted as Company Secretary in a broad range of sectors including construction, vehicle leasing, medical devices and education. She qualified as a barrister in 1997 and has legal, compliance and governance experience in a variety of businesses, including private equity, non-profit and joint ventures.
Directors’ Skills and Experience
| Skill/experience | Paul Forman | Rob Parker | Stephen Hopson | Keith Down | Diana Breeze | Kari Daniels | Denise Jagger |
| Leadership | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Strategy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Governance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Environmental & Sustainability | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Investor relations | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Banking | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| M&A | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| People | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skill/experience | Paul Forman | Rob Parker | Stephen Hopson | Keith Down | Diana Breeze | Kari Daniels | Denise Jagger |
| Marketing | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| B2B experience | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Digital | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Business Development | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Brand building | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Retail experience (Omnichannel) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Customer Experience | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skill/experience | Paul Forman | Rob Parker | Stephen Hopson | Keith Down | Diana Breeze | Kari Daniels | Denise Jagger |
| Responsibility for multiple functions | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Finance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Supply Chain | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Procurement | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Property | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| HR | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| IT and systems | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
