Board of Directors

Date of Appointment

November 2019

Experience

Richard has broad senior management and Board experience of business, engineering, corporate finance, technology and governance spanning 40 years. Richard retired as Chief Executive Officer of AIM-quoted GB Group plc in 2017, having led the company from a market capitalisation of £5 million to £500 million, and took up a portfolio role investing in and chairing both public and private companies. As well as chairing The Pebble Group plc, Richard is currently the Chairman of Vypr (a product intelligence and performance accelerator) and Chairman designate of SmartSearch (a provider of online compliance solutions).

Skills brought to the Board                      

• Extensive financial expertise
• Extensive and diverse leadership experience
• Sound practical understanding of corporate governance
• Deep appreciation of investor sentiment   
• Strong understanding of e-commerce and data solutions

External appointments

• Non-executive Director and chairman at Vypr Validation Technologies Limited
• Non-executive Director at Gudtouch Limited
• Chairman designate Smart Credit Limited (t/a SmartSearch) - part time

Committee membership

• Nomination - Chair
• Audit - Member 
• Remuneration - Member

Tenure

23 years

Experience

Chris led the private equity backed management buyout of Brand Addition in 2012 and 2017 and the acquisitions of Gateway CDI and Facilisgroup in 2016 and 2018 and the listing of The Pebble Group plc onto AIM in 2019.

Skills brought to the Board

• Sound, proven leadership skills and a considered strategic approach, developing the Group’s capabilities for sustainable growth
• Detailed understanding of the market and sector with significant knowledge of commercial, client and operational matters
• Successful transaction and M&A experience
• Client and supplier relationship management, contracting and negotiations
• A thorough understanding of stakeholder priorities including the development of the senior team and Environment, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) issues

Tenure

15 years

Experience

Claire has led the finance, banking, tax, legal and compliance aspects of the businesses which now comprise the Group for over 14 years, taking the role of Chief Financial Officer following the management buyout of Brand Addition in 2012. Claire is a qualified Chartered Accountant and, prior to joining the Group spent 11 years in audit at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, having joined in 1997. Claire has a BA Hons degree in English and American Literature from the University of Manchester.

Skills brought to the Board

• Extensive finance, financial reporting and financial management expertise
• Sound, proven leadership skills
• Wide in-depth knowledge of each business area
• Successful transaction and M&A experience
• Significant experience of effective risk management and internal controls
• Investor relations

External appointments

• Director at Cheadle Hulme School

Date of appointment

November 2019

Experience

Yvonne has been the Chief Financial Officer of Johnson Service Group PLC since 2007. She played an important role in returning the company to a growth strategy, managing a number of acquisitions and disposals. She was a Non-executive Director of NWF Group plc from 2013 until she stepped down from this role in September 2020.

Yvonne is a qualified Chartered Accountant and spent five years in audit at Deloitte Haskins & Sells, before joining Johnson Service Group PLC in 1984. Yvonne has a BSc Honours degree in Pharmacology and Physiology from the University of Manchester.

Skills brought to the Board

• Extensive financial and financial reporting expertise
• Sound practical understanding of corporate governance
• Significant understanding of audit processes, risk management and controls
• Deep appreciation of investor sentiment  

 External appointments

• Chief Financial Officer of Johnson Service Group PLC

Committee membership

• Audit - Chair
• Remuneration - Member
• Nomination - Member

Date of appointment

November 2019

Experience

Stuart has extensive corporate finance experience with a career in investment banking and as a Corporate Finance Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Stuart has an MA in Economics from the University of Cambridge and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.

Skills brought to the Board

• Expertise in mergers and acquisitions 
• Track record in advising Boards including on strategy and shareholder value 
• Sound practical understanding of corporate governance

External appointments

• Senior Advisor at Houlihan Lokey
• Non-executive Chair at Blue-I Holdings Limited
• Non-executive Director of Lodestone Oxford Limited

Committee membership

• Remuneration - Chair
• Audit - Member
• Nomination - Member

Date of appointment

June 2023

Experience

David has extensive technology and Board experience. Following a four-year tenure at Lynx Financial Systems working as a Developer, Designer and Software Architect, David co-founded Blue Prism as Chief Technology Officer in 2001.  During his 20-year tenure, David had direct responsibility for all Technology product related matters, as well as participating in key engagements with customers, partners, sales prospects and analysts and sitting on the Blue Prism board. Following a successful AIM IPO with just 70 staff and a market capitalisation of £48.5m in 2016, Blue Prism grew to over 1,000 people in 30 countries by 2020 before being acquired by SS&C in 2022 for $1.6bn.

David is the holder of several Process Automation patents around the world and played a pivotal role in the creation of the ‘RPA’ software category.  He has a BSc (Hons) degree in Mathematics from Leeds University.

Skills brought to the Board

• Extensive leadership experience
• Successful track record of ambitious growth strategy execution and building shareholder value 
• Significant knowledge, skills and experience in technology focused business
• Technology product management
• Technology product marketing
• Technology R&D
• Intellectual Property
• Successful transaction and M&A experience
• Sound practical understanding of corporate governance

External appointments

• Director at Binary Pursuits Limited

Committee membership

• Remuneration – Member
• Nomination - Member