Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc
MRW:LN
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Overview
Company Profile
Northern supermarket chain Wm Morrison was founded in Yorkshire at the end of the 19th century, and in 1967 became a listed company. After acquiring rival Safeway, Morrison became the fourth largest supermarket chain in the UK but struggled to integrate the stores.
Classification
Financials
News & Media
Corporate
Board of Directors
Andrew Higginson
Chairman
Andrew joined the Group as Deputy Chairman and Chairman Elect in October 2014 and became Chairman in January 2015. He is a member of the Nomination, Remuneration and Corporate Compliance and Responsibility Committees. Andrew is currently the Chairman of N Brown Group Plc, a Non-Executive Director of Woolworths Holdings Limited (South Africa), McCurrach UK Ltd and the RFU (Rugby Football Union). Andrew was previously the Chairman of Poundland Group Plc, Senior Independent Director of BSkyB Plc and an Executive Director at Tesco Plc for 15 years.
David Potts
Chief Executive Officer
David joined the Group as Chief Executive on 16 March 2015. He is a member of the Corporate Compliance and Responsibility Committee. David is a vastly experienced retailer who joined Tesco at the age of 16 and worked for it for 39 years. He rose to become successively CEO of its Ireland business, its UK retail stores business and then CEO of Tesco Asia. David was also on the Tesco Plc Main Board from 1998 until he left in 2011. Prior to his appointment as CEO of Morrisons David held several advisory positions with a number of private equity and consultancy firms. Since leaving Tesco in December 2011 he has developed his own retail concept to sell general merchandise and also worked on two extensive retail projects back in the UK.
Trevor Strain
Chief Financial Officer
Trevor joined the Group in June 2009 as Commercial and Operations Finance Director. In June 2011 he became Finance Director Corporate and took responsibility for the Company’s productivity programmes. Trevor joined the Board as Chief Financial Officer on 10 April 2013. Prior to joining Morrisons he worked for Tesco in a number of roles until his appointment as UK Property Finance Director in 2006 and subsequently UK Planning and Reporting Finance Director. Trevor began his career with Arthur Andersen and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Philip Cox CBE
Senior Independent Director
Philip joined the Group as a Non-Executive Director in April 2009. He was appointed as the Senior Independent Director in May 2013 and he is a member of Audit, Nomination, Remuneration and Corporate Compliance and Responsibility Committees. Philip is currently the Chairman of Drax Group Plc and a Non-Executive Director of PPL Corporation. He was a Non-Executive Director at Wincanton Plc from 2001 to 2009, having chaired their Audit Committee from 2001 to 2008 and was Chair of their Remuneration Committee from 2008. His previous Board positions were as Chief Financial Officer and then Chief Executive Officer of International Power Plc, Chief Financial Officer at Siebe Plc and Non-Executive Director of Meggitt Plc.
Neil Davidson CBE
Non-Executive Director
Neil joined the Group as a Non-Executive Director in October 2015. Neil has had an extensive career in food manufacturing beginning at Northern Foods Plc where he became Managing Director of its milk division. Neil subsequently became Chief Executive Officer of Express Dairies Plc and Arla Foods UK. Neil is currently a Non-Executive Director of Produce Investments Plc and Chairman of The Cricketer Publishing Ltd. Neil was previously a Non-Executive Director of Permission Plc and Northern Recruitment Group Plc and was Chairman of Cherry Valley Farms Limited.
Penny Hughes CBE
Chair of the Corporate Compliance and Responsibility Committee
Penny joined the Group as a Non-Executive Director in January 2010. She is a member of the Audit, Nomination, Remuneration and Corporate Compliance and Responsibility Committees. Penny is currently a Non-Executive Director of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc and SuperGroup Plc and a Trustee of the British Museum. Penny’s previous experience includes 10 years with Coca-Cola GB and Ireland and various Non-Executive roles including Body Shop International Plc, GAP Inc, Reuters Plc, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, Trinity Mirror Plc, Vodafone Plc, Home Retail Group Plc and Cable and Wireless Worldwide Plc.
Irwin Lee
Non-Executive Director
Irwin joined the Group as a Non-Executive Director in September 2015. He is a member of the Audit, Nomination, Remuneration and Corporate Compliance and Responsibility Committees. Irwin spent thirty years with Procter & Gamble where he was latterly Vice President and Managing Director, Procter & Gamble Northern Europe with responsibility for the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
Belinda Richards
Non-Executive Director and Chair Designate of the Audit Committee
Belinda joined the Group as a Non-Executive Director in September 2015. She is a member of the Audit, Nomination, Remuneration and Corporate Compliance and Responsibility Committees and is Chairman Designate of the Audit Committee. She is currently the Senior Independent Director of Grainger Plc and a Non-Executive Director of Aviva UK Life & Pensions. Belinda serves on the Advisory Group of Audit Committee Chairmen at the Financial Reporting Council. Belinda is also a member of the Governing Council of the Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation, a not for profit think-tank focussed on research in Financial Services. Belinda was previously a Non-Executive Director of Balfour Beatty Plc and Friends Life Group Plc
Johanna Waterous CBE
Chair of the Remuneration Committee
Johanna joined the Group as a Non-Executive Director in February 2010. She is a member of the Audit, Nomination, Remuneration and Corporate Compliance and Responsibility Committees. She is currently the Senior Independent Director of RSA Group Plc and of Rexam Plc. Her previous experience includes 22 years with McKinsey & Co, London, as Head of the Retail Practice in Europe and latterly as Co-Leader of the firm’s Global Marketing and Sales Practice. Johanna is a Trustee of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Foundation and of Kew Enterprises Ltd. Previous board roles include Chairman of Tate Enterprises from 1998 to 2006 and a Non-Executive Director of Shoppers Drugmart in Canada.