Richard Rose (Age: 56),
Non-Executive Chairman and Chairman of Nomination Committee
Richard was an Executive Director and Chairman of Blueheath Holdings plc (‘Blueheath’) immediately prior to the reverse acquisition of Blueheath by the Booker Group in 2007 and became Non-Executive Chairman of the Company upon completion of the merger. Richard was formerly Chief Executive of Whittard of Chelsea plc, a multi site retailer of tea and coffee which was sold in 2006. Previously he was a Director of Hagemeyer (UK) Ltd, a distributor of professional products and services, with a UK turnover approaching £1 billion through 360 outlets. Prior to that he had been Chief Executive of WF Electrical plc, a fully listed electrical distributor, where he created a substantial improvement in shareholder value. Hagemeyer purchased WF Electrical plc in 2000. He was also Non-Executive Chairman of AC Electrical Wholesale Ltd where he led a successful growth strategy resulting in a substantial increase in shareholder value. The business was sold to Wolseley in 2006. He was Executive Chairman of Helphire Group plc from 2009 to 2011. He is also Non-Executive Chairman of Anpario plc and Crawshaw Group plc and a Non-Executive Director of DRL Group Ltd.
Charles Wilson (Age: 46),
Chief Executive
Charles started his career in 1986 with Procter and Gamble following which he was a consultant with OC&C Strategy Consultants and a Director of Abberton Associates. In 1998 he became an Executive Director of Booker plc which merged with Iceland plc in 2000. In 2001 he became an Executive Director of Arcadia Group plc and in 2004 he became an Executive Director of Marks and Spencer Plc. In 2005 he was appointed as Chief Executive of Booker.
Jonathan Prentis (Age: 50),
Group Finance Director
Jonathan qualified as a chartered accountant in 1987 with Deloitte & Touche. He was appointed as Group Finance Director of Booker in 2005. Prior to this appointment, Jonathan was Finance Director of Woodward Foodservice Ltd and then Finance Director of Group Logistics within The Big Food Group plc. Prior to 2003, he was with TDG plc.
Mark Aylwin (Age: 48),
Managing Director - Booker Direct
Mark is Managing Director of Booker Direct. Prior to that, he was Chief Executive Officer of Blueheath. Mark was previously supply chain and IT director at Musgrave Budgens Londis. He has over twenty years trading, supply chain and logistics experience in the food industry, principally at Safeway where he was commercial director for non-foods and the supply chain director.
Guy Farrant (Age: 50),
Managing Director - UK Cash and Carry
Guy joined the Company on 14 October 2010 as Managing Director of the Group’s UK cash and carry business. Guy has a wealth of food experience having worked in the food industry for 25 years rising to be Director of Food and, latterly, Operations and Retail Director at Marks and Spencer plc.
Bryn Satherley (Age: 51),
Operations Director
Bryn is Operations Director responsible for property, IT, logistics and supply chain of the Booker Group. Bryn was at Booker plc between 1999 and 2001 and rejoined Booker in 2005. Prior to 1999 he was at Exel plc and was on the board of Alldays Ltd.
Lord Bilimoria CBE, DL (Age: 50),
Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director
Karan Bilimoria is the Founder of Cobra Beer and the Chairman of the Cobra Beer Partnership Ltd, a Joint Venture with Molson Coors. Karan is an Independent Crossbench Peer in the House of Lords. Karan graduated in law from the University of Cambridge and is a qualified Chartered Accountant. Karan is an honorary fellow of Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge and a former Chancellor of Thames Valley University. Karan is a former Non-Executive Director of Brake Brothers and is the President of the UK India Business Council.
Andrew Cripps (Age: 54),
Non-Executive Director and Chairman of Audit Committee
Andrew read Economics at the University of Cambridge prior to qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG. Following twenty years with Rothmans International and British American Tobacco Plc, he has held a number of Non-Executive Directorships in the UK and Europe. Andrew is currently Non-Executive Deputy Chairman of Swedish Match AB and a Non-Executive Director of Boparan Holdings Ltd.
Stewart Gilliland (Age: 55),
Non-Executive Director
Stewart joined the Board on 8 December 2010. Stewart recently retired as Chief Executive of Muller Dairies UK and Ireland after a long career spent in senior roles with leading consumer facing companies, including Whitbread and Interbrew. His current roles include Non-Executive Directorships of Sutton and East Surrey Water Plc, Vianet Group plc (formerly Brulines Group plc), and the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Karen Jones CBE (Age: 55),
Non-Executive Director and Chairman of Remuneration Committee
Karen was Chief Executive of Spirit Group Ltd, a private equity backed pub & restaurant group, which was built up by acquisition and sold to Punch Taverns in 2006. Prior to Spirit, Karen founded, grew and floated The Pelican Group Plc, owner of a number of restaurant chains including Café Rouge, which was acquired by Whitbread in 1996. Karen has a first class honours degree from University of East Anglia, and also attended Wellesley College, USA. Karen is a founder and Chairman of Food and Fuel Ltd, a hospitality company, which currently consists of eleven gastropubs in London. Karen is a Non-Executive Director of ASOS Plc, COFRA AG and of Royal National Theatre Enterprises Ltd. She is a Governor of Ashridge Business School.
Mark Chilton (Age: 49),
Company Secretary
Mark acts as Company Secretary to the Group and was appointed to his present role in June 2007. Mark qualified as a solicitor in 1987. Mark was appointed as Company Secretary of the Booker Group in 2006. Previously, he was head of legal at The Big Food Group plc. Prior to that, he was at The Greenalls Group Plc.