Board of Directors

 

Philip Parker, Non-Executive Chairman
After graduating with a law degree from Cambridge University, Philip began his career in the computer industry first with IBM and then Unisys, where he spent 10 years in the United States. He returned to the UK in the early 1980s to run the European operations of Gulf & Western’s software and training business successfully consolidating their VAR channel. In 1987, he was appointed marketing director for the defense electronics division of Plessey plc, subsequently becoming corporate development director. Following Plessey’s acquisition by GEC plc in 1989, Philip moved on to run North Sea Assets plc, a quoted oil services business which was acquired by Halliburton plc in 1995. Since then, Philip has worked as a main board director for a number of businesses and is on the board of Elitel, the Italian telecoms group, and is deputy chairman of the board of governors of Bath Spa University. 

Philip is responsible for board performance, chairs the Company's remuneration committee and is a member of the audit committee

 

 

Richard Creed, Chief Executive

Richard started his career in the accounting profession where he qualified as a chartered accountant and focused on corporate finance.  He left the profession in 1992 to work as an independent consultant to a number of healthcare and media clients before joining BetonSports Plc in 2004.  Richard joined BetonSports post-flotation and shortly after a profits warning, initially as commercial direcor but latterly as finance director.  Under his tenure the company successfully completed three significant acquisitions which enhanced shareholder value and delievered conisistent earnings before being forced to exit from the market. Richard joined Leisure & Gaming Plc in March 2008, becoming finance director in May 2008 and was appointed as Chief Executive on 31st July 2008.

 

 

Neil Craven, Non-Executive Director

Neil Craven is a Swiss-based private investor and consultant.  Neil started his career with Siemens Transportation Systems in Germany and then moved into the telecommunications industry working for Unisource Carrier Services, a joint venture of KPN, Telia and Swisscom.  Subsequently he co-founded and headed business development for Carrier1, A NASDAQ-listed pan-European provider of telecommunication services to internet service providers and other telecom companies.  In 2004 Neil joined Azemos Partner AG, an asset management and corporate finance advisory business prior to focusing solely on his private investments.  Neil is also a director of Medsea Estates Group Plc.  He holds a Master of Business Administration from the Rotterdam School of Management and a B. Eng, Hons. in Computer Engineering from Trinity College Dublin. Neil is Chairman of the Audit Committee.

 

Corporate Governance

 

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The Directors are committed to high standards of corporate governance and the statement below sets out how the Group achieves this.

 

The Board

 

The Company is controlled through its board of directors which currently comprises two executive and two non-executive members.  The Board meets on a monthly basis and operates within a formal schedule of matters reserved to it.  The Board is responsible for setting the long-term Group strategy and reviews the policies and procedures to achieve that strategy, in particular, acquisition and investment policy, approval of the Group’s annual budget and consideration of significant financing matters.  There is a clear division of responsibilities between the Chairman and the Chief Executive.  The Board has delegated clearly defined powers to its audit committee and its remuneration committee.

 

Audit Committee

 

The Audit Committee is chaired by Neil Craven.  A representative of the auditors is normally invited to the meetings.  The terms of reference of the committee include:

 

• reviewing the Company’s internal financial controls;
• satisfying itself that the statement of financial results gives a true and fair account of the Company’s affairs; and
• considering the appointment and remuneration of the auditors and monitoring the extent to which they provide other professional services to the Company.

 

Remuneration Committee

 

The Remuneration Committee is chaired by Philip Parker.  It meets when necessary to discuss the overall remuneration for the executive directors and key members of senior management.