Board of Directors

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Board-level Leadership

Our Board is responsible for supervising the management of the business and approving the strategic direction of the Company and meets as often as is necessary to effectively conduct its business. You can find out more about our Directors and their relevant skills and experience below.

Download Annual Report & Accounts

Year ending 31 March 2019 Download
Geoff Cooper, Non-Executive Chairman

Appointment to the Board

1 July 2016

Relevant skills & experience

  • Over 20 years UK public company Board experience including Chair and Chief Executive Officer roles
  • Significant retail and customer facing industry experience across the UK
  • Ability to steer Boards through high growth strategies and overseas expansion
  • Currently Non-Executive Chairman of Bourne Leisure Holdings and adviser to Charterhouse Capital Partners LLP, former Non-Executive Chairman of Dunelm Group plc and Card Factory plc. Former Chief Executive Officer of Travis Perkins Plc
  • Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

Significant current external appointments

Non-Executive Chairman of Bourne Leisure Holdings Limited and senior adviser to Charterhouse Private Equity

Committee membership

Geoff chairs the Nomination Committee

Independent

Yes

John Roberts, Chief Executive Officer

Appointment to the Board

2 August 2005 (AO Retail Limited 19 April 2000)

Relevant skills & experience

  • Co-founded the business over 19 years ago giving him thorough knowledge and understanding of the Group’s business
  • Extensive CEO experience; led the management team to successfully develop and expand the business during periods of challenging market conditions
  • Innovator and visionary lead
  • Significant market knowledge and understanding
  • Listed in Retail Week’s Retail 100 and Activist Award winner 2020

Committee membership

John attends the Remuneration, Audit and Nomination Committees by invitation

Mark Higgins, Chief Financial Officer

Appointment to the Board

1 August 2015

Relevant skills & experience

  • Group Finance Director for four years prior to appointment as AO’s Chief Financial Officer
  • Senior finance roles held at Enterprise Managed Services Ltd and the Caudwell Group
  • Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

Committee membership

Mark attends the Remuneration, Audit and Nomination Committees by invitation.

Chris Hopkinson, Non-Executive Director

Appointment to the Board

12 December 2005

Relevant skills & experience

  • Former City Financial Analyst
  • Significant industry experience
  • Holds a Masters degree in Logistics

Significant current external appointments

Executive Director of Better Business Support Ltd and Clifton Trade Bathrooms Ltd

Committee membership

Chris is a member of the Nomination Committee

Independent

No

Marisa Cassoni, Senior Independent Director

Appointment to the Board

5 February 2014

Relevant skills & experience

  • ICAEW chartered accountant with extensive financial and governance experience in both private and public companies
  • Previously finance director of John Lewis Partnership Ltd, Royal Mail Group and the UK division of Prudential Group. Former non-executive director of Skipton Group Holdings
  • Panel member of the Competition and Markets Authority
  • Wealth of Board experience

Significant current external appointments

Non-Executive Director at Ei Group Plc and Galliford Try Plc

Committee membership

Marisa is the Chair of the Audit Committee and is a member of the Remuneration Committee

Independent

Yes

Shaun McCabe, Non-Executive Director

Shaun McCabe Picture

Appointment to the Board

25 July 2018

Relevant skills & experience

  • Significant knowledge of consumer focused businesses and digital expertise
  • Senior financial, management and International experience during senior roles at Amazon and ASOS

Significant current external appointments

Chief Financial Officer for Trainline Plc

Committee membership

Shaun is a member of the Audit Committee

Independent

Yes

Luisa Delgado, Non-Executive Director

Appointment to the Board

1 January 2019

Relevant skills & experience

  • Wealth of experience in consumer goods and IT
  • Previously CEO at Safilo Group and Procter & Gamble (Nordic Region) and an Executive Board member at SAP SE

Significant current external appointments

Non-executive director at INGKA Holding B.V. (Ikea)

Committee membership

Luisa is Chair of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit Committee

Independent

Yes