Our Board

Graham Clemett joined the Board as Finance Director in July 2007 and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2020. Previously he was Finance Director for UK Corporate Banking at RBS Group PLC where he worked for a period of five years. Prior to that, Graham spent eight years at Reuters Group PLC, latterly as Group Financial Controller.

Current external appointments:
Graham is a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee for The Restaurant Group Plc.

Dave Benson joined the Group in April 2020 as Chief Financial Officer. He was previously Corporate Finance Director at Whitbread PLC. Prior to that, he held senior finance roles at Kier Group PLC and Keller Group PLC, having qualified as a chartered accountant at Deloitte.

Background and relevant experience
Lesley-Ann joined the Board in January 2021. She was previously a Director in the Cabinet Office of HM Government and a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, as well as having formerly worked at UBS and Midland Bank.

Committee Memberships:
Chair of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit, Nominations and Risk Committees.

Current external appointments:
Lesley-Ann is currently a Non-Executive Director of St James’s Place PLC and a Trustee of the North London Hospice. 

Chris Girling, a Chartered Accountant, was appointed to the Board in February 2013. He was previously Group Finance Director of Carillion PLC.

Committee Memberships:
Member of the Remuneration, Nominations and Audit Committees.

Current external appointments:
Chris is currently a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Audit Committees of Keller PLC and South East Water Limited and Chair of Trustees for the Slaughter and May Pension Fund.

Background and relevant experience
Rosie Shapland, a Chartered Accountant, was appointed to the Board in November 2020. She was previously an audit partner at PwC.

Committee Memberships:
Chair of the Audit Comittee and member of the Nominations and Risk Committees.

Current external appointments:
Rosie is currently a Non-Executive Director of Foxtons Group PLC and PayPoint PLC.

Damon was appointed to the Board in May 2013. Damon is currently Chairman of New Telecom Express Group, an interactive media service provider, and has more than 20 years’ experience in the industry. He co-founded the company in 1989. Telecom Express was sold to AMV BBDO, part of the Omnicom Group, in 1998. In 2004, Damon led a successful management buyout.

Committee memberships: 
A member of the Remuneration, Audit and Nominations Committees.

Current external appointments:
Damon holds advisory roles for a number of smaller companies in the digital media sector.

Duncan was appointed to the Board in July 2021. He has 30 years' experience in the real estate industry, having previously been CEO of Invista Real Estate Investment Management PLC and then Global Head of Real Estate at Schroders PLC. 

Committee Memberships:
A member of the Audit and Nominations Committees.

Current external appointments:
Duncan is a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Governors for the Church Commissioners and Chair of their Property Investment Committee.