A skilled and capable Board.

  • A External advisor updates
  • B Professional network
  • C Institute updates
  • D Investor forums
  • E Self-study
  • F Industry bodies
  • G Other Non-Executive roles
  • H Member of Institute of Directors
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Philip Acton

Non-Executive Chair
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Philip Acton

Non-Executive Chair
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Appointed to the Board: August 2013

Joined the Board in 2013 and became Chair in 2017. Worked for 17 years in agriculture as chief operating officer for Genus Europe and Asia and group finance director of Genus plc. Prior to that spent ten years in the electrical engineering sector as group finance director of Scholes Group plc.

Key skills

  • Considerable board, leadership and strategy skills derived from Executive and Non-Executive roles.
  • Extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, operations and finance.
  • Broad sector experience in agriculture, warehousing, distribution, engineering and manufacturing.
  • Qualified Chartered Accountant with a degree in accounting and finance.

Committee membership

  • Audit
  • Remuneration
  • Disclosure
  • Nomination (Chair)

Other current appointments

N/A

Past appointments

  • Chief Operating Officer for Genus Europe and Asia.
  • Group finance director for Genus plc.
  • Group finance director for Scholes Group plc.
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Richard Whiting

Chief Executive
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Richard Whiting

Chief Executive
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Appointed to the Board: October 2007

Joined in 2007. Previously group finance director of Heywood Williams Group plc, after joining as business development director from Brand-Rex Ltd, where he was managing director of the datacom division.

Key skills

  • Considerable leadership and strategic experience in a number of manufacturing and specialist distribution businesses in the building products and consumer products sectors.
  • Broad experience including Chief Financial Officer of a FTSE small cap business and operating at a senior level in sales and marketing roles in a FTSE 100 building products group.
  • Background in consumer products across international markets with global sourcing and operations experience.
  • Mergers and acquisition expertise across multiple sectors and markets.

Committee membership

  • Disclosure

Other current appointments

N/A

Past appointments

  • Group Finance Director of Heywood Williams Group plc.
  • Managing Director of the datacom division of Brand-Rex Ltd.
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Chris Belsham

Chief Executive Designate
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Chris Belsham

Chief Executive Designate
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Appointed to the Board: April 2017

Joined as Group Finance Director in 2017. Previously an equity partner and head of corporate finance at Irwin Mitchell LLP having joined the business in 2014 from KPMG Corporate Finance. Qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PwC in 1999.

Key skills

  • Considerable strategic and leadership experience at both NWF and as Head of Corporate Finance and Equity Partner at Irwin Mitchell LLP.
  • Extensive mergers and acquisition, valuation and financing expertise across a range of sectors following 14 years as a corporate finance advisor with KPMG with a focus on listed clients.
  • Qualified Chartered Accountant and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales, having qualified with PwC in 1999.

Committee membership

  • Disclosure (Chair)

Other current appointments

N/A

Past appointments

  • Equity Partner and Head of Corporate Finance at Irwin Mitchell LLP.
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Katie Shortland

Chief Financial Officer
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Katie Shortland

Chief Financial Officer
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Appointed to the Board - October 2023 

Joined as Chief Financial Officer in 2023. Previously Finance and Transformation Director at Midland Expressway Limited and Director of Finance at Meggitt.  Katie qualified as an accountant in 2001 during her career with Rolls-Royce plc.

Key skills

  • An experienced finance and business leader with extensive experience working in infrastructure, engineering and manufacturing.
  • Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

 

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Richard Armitage

Senior Independent Non-Executive Director
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Richard Armitage

Senior Independent Non-Executive Director
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Appointed to the Board: July 2020

Joined the Board in July 2020. Currently chief financial officer at Victrex plc and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Wide strategic and M&A experience in a number of senior finance roles.

Key skills

  • Extensive financial, strategic, mergers and acquisitions and governance experience, gained within a range of commercial organisations including consumer goods and distribution.
  • A board level executive in large complex organisations for the last 14 years.
  • Experience of investor relations and debt capital markets, with strong banking relationships.
  • Qualified Chartered Management Accountant.

Committee membership

  • Audit (Chair)
  • Remuneration (Interim Chair)
  • Nomination

Other current appointments

  • Chief Financial Officer at Morgan Advanced Materials plc.

Past appointments

  • Chief Financial Officer at Victrex plc.
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Annette Dale

Company Secretary
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Annette Dale

Company Secretary
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Appointed: November 2023

An experienced Chartered Secretary who joined as Deputy Company Secretary in 2021. Previously Assistant Company Secretary at Portmeirion Group UK Limited and Assistant Secretary at the Co-operative Group Limited.

Key skills

  • Extensive experience in quoted company requirements.
  • Legal and governance experience gained within a range of commercial organisations.
  • Qualified Chartered Secretary and Associate of the Chartered Governance Institute.