S Brian Birkenhead BSc (Hons) FCMA FID (67) - Chairman
 
Brian joined the board on 1 January 2004. He is currently chairman of Trustees at Serco Pension Schemes and a non-executive director of API Group plc, Vega Group plc and Euro Trust A/S.  Previously, he has been a non-executive director of a number of public and private companies, was the group finance director of National Power plc from 1988 to 1996 and from 1995 to 1997 was chairman of the Hundred Group of Finance Directors.

Simon G M Caffyn MA FIMI (48) - Chief Executive 

Simon joined the board on 16 July 1992 and was appointed chief executive on 1 May 1998. He graduated from Cambridge in 1983 having read engineering, and subsequently worked for Andersen Consulting. He joined the company in 1990

Mark S Harrison FCA FIMI (55) - Finance Director
 
Mark joined the board on 17th April 2000. A Chartered Accountant, he was previously finance director of two other listed companies. Having qualified with Grant Thornton, he joined KPMG. Subsequent commercial appointments were in the property, retail and distribution sectors.

Sarah J Caffyn BSc (Hons) FCIPD AICSA FIMI (40) - Human Resources
 
Sarah joined the board on 28 April 2003 as human resources director. She joined the company on 27 April 1998 as group personnel manager and was appointed company secretary in 1999. A Chartered Company Secretary, she was previously an HR manager at St Mary’s NHS Trust, Paddington.

Andrew R Goodburn FCA (61) - Senior Independent non-executive
 
Andrew joined the board on 1 February 2004.  He was finance director of Ricardo plc until 31 December 2006 at which date he retired, having formerly spent 11 years in various financial and commercial roles within the Bowthorpe Group, followed by 13 years in management consulting before joining Ricardo in 1993.

Nick W Hollingworth BSc (55) – Independent non-executive

Nick joined the board on 1 March 2008. He graduated from Birmingham University in 1973 having read chemistry. He is currently Group Chief Executive of Austin Reed Group Limited, formerly Austin Reed plc which de-listed from the London Stock Exchange in January 2007, having formerly held senior management roles within Arcadia Group plc, Etam plc and The Burton Group plc.

The board is responsible for approving the group’s policy and strategy. It meets at least six times per year and has a schedule of matters specifically reserved to it for decision (such as approval of published financial information, major capital expenditure and major acquisitions and disposals). Management supply the board with appropriate and timely information and the directors are free to seek any further information they consider necessary. All directors have access to advice from the company secretary and independent professionals at the company's expense. Training is available for new directors and other directors as necessary and new directors are also subject to a formal induction process.

The board consists of the chairman, three executive directors who hold the key operational positions in the company, and two other non-executive directors who bring a breadth of relevant experience and knowledge. The non-executive directors are independent of management and any significant business or other relationship which could interfere with the exercise of their independent judgement. This provides a balance whereby an individual or small group cannot dominate the board’s decision making.

The chairman of the board is Mr B A Carte who is responsible for running the board. The board is responsible to shareholders for the overall direction and control of the company, and the company's chief executive, Mr S G M Caffyn, is responsible to the board for management of the company within parameters set by the board. The board has named Mr S B Birkenhead as the senior independent non-executive director and Mr A R Goodburn is also an independent non-executive director.

All directors are subject to re-election every three years and, on appointment, at the first AGM after appointment.

The management team comprises the Chief Executive, the Finance Director and the Human Resources Director, together with five Regional Directors: