Persimmon plc - Board of Directors

There are nine members of our Board of Directors, the Chairman, three Executive Directors and five Non-Executive Directors. The Executive Directors have extensive experience in the housebuilding industry and provide a direct line of control between the Company and its operating businesses. The Non-Executive Directors provide a balance to the Board and bring a wide breadth of experience and skills.

The Board routinely meets seven times a year and has a formal schedule of matters reserved for its consideration and decision. This schedule includes the approval of the Group’s strategy, major investments, annual and half year results, interim management statements and trading updates, review of performance, dividend policy, monitoring risk and ensuring adequate financial resources are available. The schedule is reviewed on an annual basis.

The Board members are as follows:

		Nicholas Wrigley Chairman (55)
		Nicholas Wrigley is an Executive Vice Chairman of Rothschild London and a member of its Global Investment Banking Committee and Global Management Committee. He has over 25 years’ mergers and acquisitions experience at Rothschild and is a qualified accountant. Mr Wrigley was appointed Chairman at the AGM on 21 April 2011 having been on the Board since 1 February 2006. He is Chairman of the Nomination Committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee.
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		Mike Farley BSC (HONS.) MCIOB Group Chief Executive (57)
		Mike Farley was appointed Group Chief Executive in April 2006. He joined Persimmon in 1983 and was appointed to the Board in 1989. Mr Farley is a member of the Chartered Institute of Building. He was responsible for establishing Persimmon Homes Wessex and for developing the Group’s operating businesses in the Midlands before becoming Chief Executive of the original South Division. Mr Farley is a member of the Risk Committee.
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		Mike Killoran BA (HONS.) ACA Group Finance Director (49)
		Mike Killoran joined the Company in 1996 and was appointed to the Board in January 1999. A chartered accountant by profession, Mr Killoran worked in manufacturing, distribution and retail sectors before joining the Group. He took over his present role in April 1999 and is a member of the Risk Committee.
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		Jeff Fairburn Group Managing Director (44)
		Jeff Fairburn joined the Group in 1989. He was promoted to Managing Director of the Group’s North East operating business in 2000 and became North Eastern Regional Chairman in 2005, before assuming the role of North Division Chief Executive in 2006. Mr Fairburn was appointed to the Board on 1 June 2009 and is a member of the Risk Committee.
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		David Thompson Senior Independent Director (56)
		David Thompson is Chairman of Marston’s PLC and Chief Executive of Anglia Maltings (Holdings) Limited. He is also a non-executive director of Caledonia Investments Plc. Appointed to the Board in August 1999, he is the Senior Independent Director and a member of the Audit, Nomination and Remuneration Committees.
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		Neil Davidson CBE Non-Executive Director (60)
		Neil Davidson is Chairman of Wisden Cricketer Publishing Ltd and a Director of Emerging Media Ltd and Competition Law Process Management. He was previously Chief Executive of Arla Foods UK PLC until he retired in June 2005. He joined the Board on 19 January 2004. He is Chairman of the Corporate Responsibility Committee and a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees.
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		Richard Pennycook Non-Executive Director (47)
		Richard Pennycook was appointed to the Board on 14 March 2008. A chartered accountant and graduate of Bristol University, he has been the Group Finance Director of Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC since 2005. Previous roles include Group Finance Director of RAC plc, Finance Director of J D Wetherspoon plc, CEO of Welcome Break Holdings PLC and non-executive Director of Richer Sounds plc. Mr Pennycook was appointed to the Board on 14 March 2008 and is Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Nomination Committee.
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		Jonathan Davie Non-Executive Director (64)
		Jonathan Davie was appointed to the Board on 1 January 2010. He is non-executive Chairman of IG Group Holdings Plc and First Avenue Partners LLP. Mr Davie’s previous roles include Vice Chairman of Credit Suisse, CEO of BZW Global Equities and non-executive Director of Credit Suisse UK Private Bank. Mr Davie is Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit Committee.
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		Mark Preston Non-Executive Director (43)
		Mark Preston was appointed to the Board on 9 January 2012. Mr Preston, a chartered surveyor, is the Group Chief Executive of Grosvenor Group Limited. He joined Grosvenor in the UK in 1989 and became Chief Executive of Grosvenor Britain & Ireland in 2006 and Group Chief Executive in 2008. He is a non-executive Director of Sonae Sierra SGPS. He is also a Director of The Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate, a Member of the (University of) Cambridge Land Economy Advisory Board and a Member of the Eurohypo International Advisory Board.
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