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The WH Smith PLC Main Board is led by the Chairman and includes four non-executive directors and two executive directors, with support from the Company Secretary.
The Management Team comprises the Chief Executive, the Group Finance Director and the Group Strategy Director. It is responsible for the delivery of business performance targets.
Walker Boyd, Chairman
Walker Boyd joined the Board as non-executive director in February 2010 and was appointed Chairman on 1 September 2010. He has substantial retail expertise both in the UK and the USA. He retired as Group Finance Director at Signet Jewellers Limited in June 2010 (previously Signet Group Plc) having held this position since 1995. Prior to that Mr Boyd was Finance Director of Signet’s UK Jewellery Division from 1992.
Kate Swann, Chief Executive
Kate Swann was appointed Chief Executive and joined the Board in November 2003. She started her career at Tesco Plc as a Marketing Executive, before moving on to positions at Homepride Foods, Coca Cola Schweppes and Dixons Stores Group. She then worked for Homebase, ultimately as Managing Director, and in 2000 was made Managing Director of Argos.
Robert Moorhead, Group Finance Director
Robert Moorhead was appointed Group Finance Director and joined the Board on 1 December 2008. He joined WH Smith PLC in 2004 as Finance Director - Retail. Previously, he was appointed Group Finance Director at Specsavers Optical Group in 2002, and Finance and IT Director of World Duty Free Europe Ltd in 2001. He held a number of roles at B&Q and Kingfisher Group which he joined in 1991. He started his career at Price Waterhouse.
Mike Ellis, Non-Executive Director
Mike Ellis joined the Board in March 2005 and is Chairman of the Audit Committee. From 2001, until the end of October 2004, Mike was Group Finance Director of HBOS plc, the UK’s largest mortgage and savings provider. Prior to this, for fourteen years, Mike worked in a number of senior executive positions at Halifax plc and was appointed Chief Operating Officer in October 1999.
Drummond Hall, Non-Executive Director
Drummond Hall joined the Board in September 2008. He spent his early years with Procter and Gamble, Mars and PepsiCo, and from 2002 to 2006 was Chief Executive of Dairy Crest PLC. He is a Non-Executive Director of Taylor Nelson Sofres PLC.
Henry Staunton, Non-Executive Director
Henry Staunton joined the Board on 1 September 2010. He has extensive finance, media and retail expertise. He is currently a Non-Executive Director of Legal and General plc, Merchants Trust plc and Capital and Counties Properties plc. Previously he was Finance Director of Granada and ITV.
Jeff Harris, Non-Executive Director
Jeff Harris joined the Board in June 2011. Jeff has extensive retail and financial expertise. He has been Chairman of Filtrona plc since 2005 and was chairman of Alliance UniChem plc from 2001 until 2005. Jeff was the Finance Director of UniChem plc from 1986 to 1992, Chief Executive from 1992 and Chief Executive of the enlarged Alliance UniChem plc from 1997 to 2001. In April 2010 Jeff was appointed to the Board of Cookson Group plc and as Chairman from 13 April 2010.
Ian Houghton, Company Secretary
Ian Houghton is Company Secretary and Director of Legal Services and joined the Company in June 1996. He qualified as a solicitor in October 1992 and immediately prior to joining WHSmith was employed as a solicitor by the RSPCA.
Kate Swann, Chief Executive
Kate Swann was appointed Chief Executive and joined the Board in November 2003. She started her career at Tesco Plc as a Marketing Executive, before moving on to positions at Homepride Foods, Coca Cola Schweppes and Dixons Stores Group. She then worked for Homebase, ultimately as Managing Director, and in 2000 was made Managing Director of Argos.
Robert Moorhead, Group Finance Director
Robert Moorhead was appointed Group Finance Director and joined the Board on 1 December 2008. He joined WH Smith PLC in 2004 as Finance Director - Retail. Previously, he was appointed Group Finance Director at Specsavers Optical Group in 2002, and Finance and IT Director of World Duty Free Europe Ltd in 2001. He held a number of roles at B&Q and Kingfisher Group which he joined in 1991. He started his career at Price Waterhouse.
Neil Monnery, Group Strategy Director
Neil Monnery is Group Strategy Director. He joined WHSmith in March 2004 and was previously a Senior Vice President and director at the Boston Consulting Group. He joined BCG in 1984 and was head of BCG’s UK Consumer and Retail practice where his work for retailers focused on revenue improvement, cost reduction, growth, organisation and corporate strategy.
The Audit, Nominations and Remuneration committees have written terms of reference that define their role, responsibilities and membership.
The Audit Committee meets at least three times a year. Its responsibilities include monitoring the integrity and clarity of the Company's results and financial statements; reviewing the effectiveness of the Company's internal controls and risk management systems; reviewing the effectiveness of the Company's internal audit function; and assessing the independence and objectivity of the external auditors. Members of the Audit Committee are Mike Ellis (Chairman), Jeff Harris, Drummond Hall and Henry Staunton.
The Nominations Committee advises the Board on the appointment of Directors and meets when necessary. Its responsibilities include regular reviews of the structure, size and composition of the Board; giving full consideration to succession planning; and evaluating the balance of skills, knowledge and experience of the Board. Members of the Nominations Committee are Walker Boyd (Chairman), Jeff Harris, Mike Ellis, Drummond Hall, Henry Staunton and Kate Swann.
The Remuneration Committee is responsible for determining and agreeing with the Board the broad policy for the remuneration of the Chairman, executive directors and certain other senior executives; and in consultation with the Chairman and/or Chief Executive as appropriate, determining the total individual remuneration package of each executive director and other senior executives including bonuses and share incentives. Members of the Remuneration Committee are Drummond Hall (Chairman), Jeff Harris, Walker Boyd, Mike Ellis and Henry Staunton.