Board of directors

Chairman

Nomination Committee chairman, member of Remuneration Committee

John Napier joined the Board in June 2008 and became chairman in July 2008. From December 2008 to May 2010 he also served as chief executive on an interim basis. John is also chairman of RSA Insurance Group plc, a position he has held since 2003. John was chief executive of Hays plc from 1990 to 1998. Prior to that he was chief executive of AGB, the market research and information company. From 1998 he was chairman of Booker until its sale to Iceland in 2000, and chairman of Kelda from 1999 to 2008.

CEO, Aegis Group plc and Aegis Media

Jerry Buhlmann was appointed Group CEO in May 2010, having joined the Board in June 2008 as CEO of Aegis Media. Jerry has some 25 years’ experience in the media and advertising industries. From 2003 to May 2008 he was CEO of Aegis Media EMEA. Between 2000 and 2003, Jerry was CEO of Carat International. In 1989 he founded media agency BBJ, which was sold to Aegis in 1999.

Executive chairman Aegis Media Pacific (Australia and New Zealand)

Harold Mitchell, AC was appointed to the Board in December 2010 following the Group’s acquisition of Mitchell Communication Group Limited, of which he was founder and executive chairman. Harold is based in Australia, where he is a non-executive director of Crown Limited. He holds a large number of community roles and in the arts, being the founder of the Harold Mitchell Foundation and serving as chairman of CARE Australia, Melbourne Rebels Rugby Union, ThoroughVision, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Recital Centre, Art Exhibitions Australia, Television Sydney (TVS) and The Melbourne City School. He is also vice-chairman of Tennis Australia and a non-executive director of Deakin Foundation.

CEO, Synovate

Robert Philpott joined the Board in March 2010, having been appointed global CEO of Synovate in September 2009. He is based in Chicago. Robert is a career market researcher, having worked at Synovate for 15 years. He previously held the position of global COO from March 2006. During his time in research he has held senior leadership roles in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Robert began his marketing career at IBM.

Chief financial officer, Aegis Group plc and Aegis Media

Nick Priday was appointed Chief Financial Officer in September 2009. Nick has held a variety of finance roles at Aegis since joining in 2003, and was previously director of financial reporting, analysis and control. He qualified as a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young.

Non-executive director

Member of Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee

John Brady joined the Board in August 2009. He also serves on the Boards of Greene King plc, Osborne Clarke LLP and Invest Northern Ireland as a non-executive director, and was previously a non-executive director of Hanson plc. Between 1980 and 2004 he worked for McKinsey & Company, the international management consultancy. He was made a director in 1994 and had a range of senior roles including responsibility for McKinsey’s European Retail and Marketing practices.

Non-executive director

Audit Committee chairman, member of Nomination Committee

Simon Laffin joined the Board in August 2009. He is also a non-executive director of Quintain Estates & Development PLC, an advisor to CVC Capital Partners and chairman of Hozelock Group. From 2007 to 2008 he served as a non-executive director of Northern Rock, as part of the rescue team, and from 2009 to 2010 served on the Board of Mitchells & Butlers plc. Between 1995 and 2004 he was group CFO of UK grocery retailer Safeway, which he joined in 1990. He is a qualified accountant.

Non-executive director

Member of Audit Committee and Nomination Committee

Dr Martin Read joined the Board in August 2009. He is a non-executive director of Invensys plc and Lloyds of London and chair of the Remuneration Consultants Group. He was chief executive of Logica plc, the international IT services company from 1993 to 2007, and has served as a non-executive director on the boards of British Airways, Siemens Holdings, Boots and ASDA.

Non-executive director, Senior independent director

Member of Audit Committee and Nomination Committee

Charles Strauss joined the Board in September 2003. He is a US national with 35 years’ international experience in consumer products businesses, including 18 with Unilever. From 2000 to 2004 Charles served on the Unilever Board as group president, Unilever Home & Personal Care, chairman of Unilever’s North American Committee, and its US president and CEO. He is a former director of The Hershey Company and currently a director of The Hartford Financial Services Group.

Non-executive director

Remuneration Committee chairman, member of Nomination Committee

Lorraine Trainer joined the Board in August 2005. She is also a non-executive director of Jupiter Fund Management plc. She has held a number of human resource leadership roles in international organisations, focusing on performance and development. These include Citibank, the London Stock Exchange and Coutts, then part of the NatWest Group. She now runs a business in board advisory work and development. She also has significant experience of working with arts organisations and the not-for-profit sector.