The Board
Peter Johnson
- Executive Chairman
Peter is the company’s founder and majority shareholder and has the role of Executive Chairman. He has a service agreement with the company, effective from 5 September 2006, which requires 12 months notice of termination by either party.
Chris Houghton
- Group Managing Director
Chris was appointed to the board on 11 October 2000 and became group managing director on 4 May 2004. Chris is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and joined the group as group accountant in 1986. He became group financial controller in 1990, finance director of Park Direct Credit in November 1999 and group finance director on 29 March 2001. He has a service agreement with the company entered into on 29 June 2001 which requires 12 months notice of termination by either party.
Martin Stewart
- Group Finance Director
Martin was appointed to the board on 1 November 2004. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and joined the group from Eddie Stobart Group, where he was Group Finance Director. Prior to this Martin was with UK Waste Management Ltd from 1992 to 2000, from 1997 as finance director, and earlier in his career held financial positions with The Littlewoods Organisation, ICI PLC and Price Waterhouse. He has a service agreement with the company entered into on 1 November 2004 which requires 12 months notice of termination by either party.
Gary Woods
- Managing Director, Park Retail Limited
Gary was appointed to the board on 29 March 2001. He joined the group with the acquisition of Chrisco Hampers in 1980 and has gained wide experience in divisional roles. He is managing director of Park Retail Limited. He has a service agreement with the company entered into on 29 June 2001 which requires 12 months notice of termination by either party.
Christopher Baker MBE
- Non-Executive Director
Christopher was appointed to the board as a non-executive director on 29 March 2001. He has a service agreement with the company entered into on 23 March 2006 which requires six months’ notice of termination by either party. He has formerly held senior management positions with Littlewoods plc and Hill Samuel Bank Limited, and is currently chairman of Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and chair of the Training and Development Agency for Schools, non-executive deputy chairman of Jacques Vert plc and a non-executive director of AI Claims Solutions plc. Mr Baker is chairman of the group’s audit committee, a member of the remuneration and nomination committees, and the group’s senior independent non-executive director.
George Marcall
- Non-Executive Director
George was appointed to the board as a non-executive director on 29 March 2001. He has a service agreement with the company entered into on 23 March 2006 which requires six months’ notice of termination by either party. He has formerly held directorships with Airtours plc and Yates Group plc and is a non-executive director of Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and of the National Union of Students Services Limited. Mr Marcall is chairman of the group’s remuneration committee and a member of the audit and nomination committees.
John Dembitz
- Non-Executive Director
John was appointed to the board as a non-executive director on 8 May 2008. He has a service agreement with the company entered into on 8 May 2008 which requires six months’ notice of termination by either party. He was formerly Chairman of Tack International Limited, Coffee Point plc, CVO Group BV and PALS Leisure Group and held senior executive positions with McKinsey & Co, Consolidated Gold Fields Plc, Charterhouse Japhet and Valin Pollen Limited. He is currently chairman of Titus International plc and a non-executive director of Lee Baron Group Limited, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and Birchport Limited. Mr Dembitz is chairman of the nominations committee and a member of the audit and remuneration committees.