The following details the PLUS Markets Group plc
Board of Directors - names, brief biographies - and
descriptions of the board commitees and
responsibilities
STEPHEN HAZELL-SMITH (b1954)
Independent Non-executive Chairman
‡
(from 20 January 2005)
Stephen is a UK institutional fund manager by background, including the founder and Managing Director of Rutherford Asset Management Ltd, where he created a number of highly successful smaller company investment vehicles, including Herald Investment Trust and Beacon Investment Trust. In 1997 he sold Rutherford Asset Management to Close Brothers Group and joined Close Investment Limited as Managing Director, where he was responsible for launching the Close Brothers AIM VCT. He is a director of Close Brothers AIM VCT plc, Chairman of Phoenix VCT plc and Chairman of Conduit PR Ltd, a financial public relations firm.
SIMON BRICKLES (b1964)
Chief Executive Officer
(from 1 November 2004)
Simon was previously employed as head of AIM at the London Stock Exchange, having served as its regulator as a member of the market's founding team. Simon was responsible for writing the original AIM Rules, introducing a fast-track procedure for companies with overseas listings and lobbying to secure AIM's positioning under the current European legislative framework. He also marketed and promoted AIM in the UK and overseas. Prior to that he practiced as a barrister. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge and the City University.
NEMONE WYNN-EVANS (b1974)
Chief Financial Officer
(from 19 September 2008)
Nemone joined PLUS Markets Group in 2004 as a member of the current management team. She has an MBA from Cranfield School of Management and is a graduate of Merton College, Oxford. She spent several years working in corporate finance and broking at KPMG and HSBC, prior to a relationship management role at the London Stock Exchange.
CYRIL THERET (b1970)
Business Development Director
(from 8 January 2007)
Cyril has been responsible for sales activities at the Company since January 2004. He previously spent five years with the London Stock Exchange where he held positions in market supervision and issuer services including Business Development Manager for North America. Cyril previously worked for State Street Bank and Trust in Paris, Munich and London. He holds a Maitrise d'Ingenierie Financiere and B.A. in International Economics.
STEPHEN ALLCOCK QC (b1952)
Independent Non-executive Director
*
†
(from 1 January 2006)
Stephen is a Tax Barrister by profession, becoming a QC in 1993 and retiring from the Bar in 1999. Subsequently, he served as a Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers in their Private Client Department. Stephen pursues various interests in small businesses and he is a private investor in the stock market, in private equity and in commercial property.
NICHOLAS SMITH (b1951)
Independent Non-executive Director
*
†
(from 1 January 2006)
Nicholas is a Chartered Accountant with a previous career in investment banking. He worked for Flemings, Jardine Fleming and HSBC in Europe and Asia and his roles have included being co-head of investment banking and Chief Financial Officer of the Jardine Fleming Group. He is a director of AIM-listed Asian Citrus Holdings and 4C Associates Ltd, a private company involved in outsourcing and procurement solutions.
AHMED IBRAHIM AL ASFOUR (b1955)
Non-executive Director
(from 25 September 2009)
Mr. Al Asfour has spent his early career working for oil companies. From 1992
to 1996 he worked for the Ministry of Oil for the State of Kuwait and presently
serves as Chairman and CEO of Ritaj Insurance Company as well as holding a
number of other board appointments.
Mr. Al Asfour obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota and is a national of the state of Kuwait.
HISHAM S. AL OTAIBI (b1946)
Non-executive Director
(from 25 September 2009)
Mr. Al Otaibi is the former Minister of Commerce and Industry for the State of
Kuwait, and has been a member of the Kuwait Supreme Petroleum Council since
1999. He currently serves as a director of the Kuwait Stock Exchange, having
formerly been its President and is Chairman of Contracting & Marine Services
Co.
Mr. Al Otaibi holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oklahoma and is a national of the state of Kuwait.
* Member of the Audit Committee
† Member of the Remuneration Committee
‡ Member of the Nomination Committee
Audit Committee
Members of the Audit committee are:
-
Nicholas Smith (Chairman)
-
Stephen Allcock QC
Remuneration Committee
Members of the Remuneration committee are:
-
Stephen Allcock QC
-
Nicholas Smith
The Remuneration
Committee is responsible to the Board for establishing the Company's
remuneration policy, taking due note of the recommendations set out in
the Combined Code, and for determining the salary, incentives and other
benefits of the Executive Directors, taking advice as appropriate.
Additionally, the Committee reviews and approves management recommendations
in respect of share option schemes or other performance related incentive
arrangements for executives and employees, again taking note of the
recommendations set out in the Code. The Committee meets as required.
Remuneration policy
The objectives of the Company's remuneration policy are to ensure that
Executive salaries and incentives are aligned with the performance of
the individuals, the Company, and the interests of shareholders. Executive
remuneration arrangements are designed to be competitive and to attract,
motivate and retain executives of the calibre necessary to maintain and
develop the Company.
Nomination Committee
The Chairman of the Nomination Committee is Stephen Hazell-Smith.
Directors' Responsibilities
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the
financial statements in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each
financial year. Under that law Directors have elected to prepare the financial
statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting
Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). The
financial statements are required by law to give a true and fair view of
the state of affairs of the Company and of the Group, and of the profit or
loss of the Group for that period. In preparing these financial statements,
the Directors are required to:
- Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed,
subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the
financial statements; and
- Prepare financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is
inappropriate to presume that the Company will continue in business.
The Directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that
disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the
Group and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the
Companies Act 1985. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of
the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and
detection of fraud and other irregularities.