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 2017 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 Card Factory plc and Bourne Leisure Holdings and adviser to Charterhouse Capital Partners LLP, former Non-Executive Chairman of Dunelm Group plc and former Chief Executive Officer of Travis Perkins Plc
  • Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

Significant current external appointments

Non-Executive Chairman of Card Factory plc and Bourne Leisure Holdings Limited. Senior adviser to Charterhouse Private Equity

Committee membership

Geoff chairs the Nomination Committee

Independent

Yes

Steve Caunce, Chief Executive Officer

Appointment to the Board

13 October 2005

Relevant skills & experience

  • Thorough knowledge and understanding of the Group’s business having held Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer positions from 2005 until 2017
  • Substantial experience in growth businesses with a strong consumer focus
  • Significant Board and management experience: previously Finance Director at Phones 4U Limited and senior positions held at MyTravel Plc and Preston North End Plc
  • Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

Committee membership

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

John Roberts, Founder, Executive Director

Appointment to the Board

2 August 2005 (AO Retail Limited 19 April 2000)

Relevant skills & experience

  • Co-founded the business over 17 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

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.

Brian McBride, Senior Independent Director

Appointment to the Board

6 February 2014

Relevant skills & experience

  • Extensive online retail experience – former Managing Director of Amazon.co.uk and Chair of ASOS Plc and Wiggle Ltd
  • Significant non-executive and governance experience
  • Masters degree in Economics, History and Politics

Significant current external appointments

Chairman of ASOS Plc and Wiggle Ltd

Committee membership

Brian is Chair of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit and Nomination Committees.

Independent

Yes

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 Audit Committee.

Independent

No

Marisa Cassoni, Non-Executive 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
  • Panel member of the Competition and Markets Authority
  • Wealth of Board experience

Significant current external appointments

Non-Executive Director of Skipton Group Holdings Ltd and EI Group Plc

Committee membership

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

Independent

Yes

Jacqueline de Rojas CBE, Non-Executive Director

Appointment to the Board

23 November 2017

Relevant skills & experience

  • Significant experience in fast moving technology businesses
  • Previous senior roles held at major global technology companies including Sage Group plc, Citrix Systems Inc, CA Technologies, Novell and McAfee International and non-executive director at Home Retail Group plc
  • President of techUK, Chair of the Digital Leaders Technology Group and also serves of the government’s Digital Economy Council.
  • A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace
  • Awarded a CBE for services to international trade in the technology industry In the 2018 New Year’s Honours list

Significant current external appointments

Non-executive director of Costain Group plc and Rightmove plc

Committee membership

Jacqueline is a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees

Independent

Yes