Richard Rose, (Non-Executive Chairman, Age: 52)
Richard joined Blueheath as deputy chairman in May 2006 and was appointed Executive Chairman in September 2006. In June 2007, he was appointed Non-Executive Chairman of the group. Richard was formerly Chief Executive Officer of Whittard of Chelsea plc, a multi site retailer of tea and coffee which was sold to an investee company of Baugur Group hf 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 Officer 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 Limited where he led a very successful growth strategy resulting in a very substantial increase in shareholder value. The business was sold to Wolseley in 2006. He is Chairman of Kiotech International plc, Non-Executive Chairman of Nanoscience Inc. and Executive Chairman of Crawshaw Group Plc.
Charles Wilson, (Chief Executive Officer, Age: 42)
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 at Marks and Spencer Plc. In 2005 he was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Booker.
Jonathan Prentis, (Chief Financial Officer, Age: 46)
Jonathan qualified as a chartered accountant in 1987 with Deloitte & Touche. Jonathan was appointed as finance director of Booker in 2005 after the acquisition of The Big Food Group plc. Prior to this appointment, Jonathan was finance director of Woodward Foodservice Limited and then finance director of Group Logistics within The Big Food Group plc. Prior to 2003, Jonathan was with TDG plc.
Lord Bilimoria, (Non-Executive Director, Age: 46)
Karan Bilimoria is a Cambridge University Law Graduate and a qualified Chartered Accountant. He is the founder and Chairman of Cobra Beer. He is an Advisory Board Member of Boston Analystics and a former Non-Executive Director of Brake Brothers. He is also Chairman of the UKIBC and an independent Crossbench Peer in the House of Lords.
Andrew Cripps, (Non-Executive Director, Age: 50)
Andrew read Economics at the University of Cambridge prior to qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG. Following twenty years with Rothman 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 MatchAB where he also sits on the Audit Committee.
Hans Kristian Hustad, (Non-Executive Director, Age: 58)
Hans Kristian started his career in the Norwegian food and beverage industry in the 1970's. In 1996, he started to work for one of the largest food retailers in Norway, Reitan Group Ltd., and was responsible for the launch of Rema 1000 International Ltd. on the Oslo Stock Exchange through a merger with the listed Narvesen Plc. He became a Non-Executive Director of Baugur Group when the company was launched on the Icelandic Stock Exchange in 1999. When Baugur Group hf headed the consortium which bought The Big Food Group plc in February 2005, he became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Booker. When Charles Wilson became Chief Executive Officer of Booker from November 2005, he continued as Non-Executive Chairman, until the reverse takeover of Blueheath. He is a Non-Executive Director of Hamleys and Wyevale.
Kevin Lyon, (Non-Executive Director, Age: 46)
Kevin qualified as a chartered accountant in 1985. After two years in merchant banking Kevin joined the private equity and venture capital business, 3i plc. While with 3i, he built and developed several successful investment teams across the UK and led many transactions in a wide range of sectors. Kevin also held a number of leadership and management positions including Managing Director, UK Private Equity. Kevin left 3i plc in 2004 to build a portfolio of non-executive interests. Kevin is currently Chairman of a number of UK companies.
Jim McMahon, (Non-Executive Director, Age: 59)
Jim is a founding partner, with Sir Tom Hunter, of West Coast Capital and has been involved in approximately £5 billion of West Coast Capital led deals since March 2001. Jim sits on a number of retail boards, including House of Fraser and Wyevale, providing strategic and financial advice. Jim was a Senior Inspector of Taxes and then spent sixteen years with PricewaterhouseCoopers where he was a Tax Partner, a member of the PwC Supervisory Board and, prior to joining West Coast Capital, headed a national team advising some of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs and their businesses.