Board of Directors
The Board of Imperial Tobacco Group PLC, which meets at least five times a year, currently comprises a Non-Executive Chairman, seven Non-Executive Directors and three Executive Directors.
There's a clear separation of the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive to ensure an appropriate balance of power and authority. The Board is supported by John Downing in his role as Company Secretary.
Iain Napier, FCMA, CGMA
Chairman
Skills and experience
As a former Chief Executive of Taylor Woodrow PLC and main board Director of Bass PLC, Iain brings considerable senior level board and general management experience to the Group.
Appointment
Appointed Chairman in January 2007.
Non-Executive Director from March 2000.
Committee membership
Chairman of Nominations Committee.
External appointments
Non-Executive Chairman of McBride PLC and John Menzies plc, and a Non-Executive Director of Molson Coors Brewing Company and William Grant & Sons Holdings Limited.
Annual General Meeting
30 January 2013
Preliminary results
01 November 2011
Alison Cooper, BSC, ACA
Chief Executive
Skills and experience
Since being appointed as Chief Executive Alison has led the development and implementation of the Group’s sustainable sales growth strategy. Alison joined the Group in 1999 and, through a number of senior roles, has contributed significantly to the international expansion of the Group including leading the Altadis acquisition team.
Appointment
Appointed Director in July 2007. Appointed Chief Executive in May 2010.
External appointments
Non-Executive Director, Inchcape plc since July 2009.
Half Year results
30 April 2013
CAGE Conference, London
19 March 2013
Robert Dyrbus, BSC, FCA
Finance Director
Skills and experience
Robert draws on over 25 years of financial experience in listed companies and has been instrumental in the Group’s international expansion. He has overall responsibility for the financial management and control of the Group, including its treasury, tax, information services, corporate assurance and investor relations functions.
Appointment
Appointed Finance Director on demerger in 1996.
External appointments
No external Director appointments.
Half Year results
30 April 2013
Investor Day
26 February 2013
Matthew Phillips, LLB
Corporate Affairs Director
Skills and experience
Matthew has held a number of senior roles including Company Secretary, General Counsel and Group Corporate and Legal Affairs Director prior to his appointment to the Board as Corporate Affairs Director in June 2012. He played a key role in the acquisitions of Altadis and Reemtsma and has been closely involved in developing and supporting the Group's sales growth strategy.
Appointment
Appointed Corporate Affairs Director, June 2012.
External appointments
No external Director appointments.
Investor Day presentations
12 July 2011
Mark Williamson, CA (SA)
Deputy Chairman of the Board and Senior Independent Non-Executive Director
Skills and experience
Mark is a qualified accountant, who brings considerable financial and general managerial experience to our Board and who meets the recent and relevant financial experience requirements of the UK Corporate Governance Code. Mark was Chief Financial Officer of International Power plc until 2012 and has considerable experience of managing relationships with the investor and financial communities.
Prior to joining International Power plc, Mark was Group Financial Controller and Group Chief Accountant of Simon Group.
Appointment
Mark joined the Board in July 2007 and was appointed Senior Independent Non-Executive Director in February 2012, a role which he will continue to perform, and was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Board in January 2013.
Committee membership
Nominations Committee, Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee.
External appointments
Senior Independent Non-Executive Director of National Grid plc and Non-Executive Director of Alent plc.
Ken Burnett, MA, MBA, PHD, M Inst M
Non-Executive Director
Skills and experience
Ken, an independent management consultant, brings significant experience of the consumer goods sector in the Asia Pacific region. He was President, Asia Pacific of Allied Domecq from 1996 until its acquisition by Pernod Ricard in 2005.
Prior to joining Allied Domecq, he held senior management positions in the Asia Pacific region with Seagram, Interbrew and International Distillers & Vintners Ltd (now part of Diageo plc).
Appointment
Appointed Non-Executive Director in April 2006.
Committee membership
Nominations Committee, Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee.
External appointments
Non-Executive Chairman of Elemental Energy Technologies Limited. Director of Elemental Energy Technolgies (Asia) Pte Limited.
David Haines
Non-Executive Director
Skills and experience
David brings considerable senior level board experience and is currently Chief Executive Officer of Grohe AG. He joined Grohe in 2004 from Vodafone Group PLC where he was Global Marketing Director. He is also a former Chairman of Vimpelcom A/O. David gained extensive general management and sales experience with Vodafone and Mars earlier in his career.
Appointment
Appointed Non-Executive Director in February 2012.
Committee membership
Nominations, Audit and Remuneration Committee.
External appointments
Chief Executive Officer of Grohe AG, Director of Joyou AG.
Michael Herlihy, MA (Oxon), Solicitor
Non-Executive Director
Skills and experience
Michael is General Counsel for Smiths Group plc. He was formerly General Counsel and Head of Mergers and Acquisitions for ICI PLC with overall responsibility for corporate acquisitions and divestments and has extensive experience of both private and public market transactions.
Appointment
Appointed Non-Executive Director in July 2007.
Committee membership
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and Member of the Nominations Committee and the Audit Committee.
External appointments
Serves on the board of Compass Partners International LLP and is currently General Counsel of Smiths Group plc.
Susan Murray CCMI
Non-Executive Director
Skills and experience
Susan brings to the Board a wealth of international general management, strategy and marketing experience, as a former Chief Executive of Littlewoods Stores Limited and worldwide President and Chief Executive of The Pierre Smirnoff Company.
Susan has considerable experience as a Non-Executive Director. She is a former Non-Executive Director of SSL International plc, Aberdeen Asset Management PLC, Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc and a former council member of the Advertising Standards Authority.
Appointment
Appointed Non-Executive Director in December 2004.
Committee membership
Nominations Committee, Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee.
External appointments
Non-Executive Chairman of Farrow & Ball and Non-Executive Director of Pernod Ricard SA, Compass Group PLC and Enterprise Inns Plc. Susan is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Berge Setrakian
Non-Executive Director
Skills and experience
Berge is a senior partner in the law firm DLA Piper LLP (US) and brings extensive expertise in international transactions. He also brings significant experience as a Non-Executive Director, including within the tobacco sector having been appointed to Altadis S.A.'s board in 2004.
Appointment
Appointed Non-Executive Director in June 2008.
Committee membership
Nominations Committee and Remuneration Committee.
External appointments
Partner of DLA Piper LLP (US), Executive Chairman and CEO of AGBU, Non-Executive Director of Interaudi Bank of New York, Non-Executive Director of The Morganti Group, Inc.
Malcolm Wyman, CA (SA)
Non-Executive Director
Skills and experience
As a qualified accountant and former Chief Financial Officer of SAB Miller plc, with responsibility for the group’s financial operations, corporate finance and development and group strategy, Malcolm brings not only a wealth of financial expertise but also considerable general management experience to the Board. He also meets the recent and relevant financial experience requirements of the UK Corporate Governance Code.
Appointment
Appointed Non-Executive Director in October 2011 and Chairman of the Audit Committee in February 2012.
Committee membership
Chairman of Audit Committee; and Member of the Nominations Committee and Remuneration Committee.
External appointments
Senior Independent Non-Executive Director of Nedbank Group Limited and a Non-Executive Director of Tsogo Sun Holdings Limited, both listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Malcolm is also the Senior Independent Non-Executive Director of Serco Group plc.
John Downing
Company Secretary
Skills and experience
John joined Imperial in 2005 having worked for law firm Linklaters. He has had a number of senior legal roles in Imperial and was appointed Head of Group Legal in 2010. He played a leading role in the Altadis acquisition and has considerable experience in managing key corporate projects related to financing, business development and other commercial matters.
Appointment
Appointed Company Secretary in June 2012.
