Serco Group plc Board Directors
The Board comprises the non-executive chairman, two executive directors and six non-executive directors.
John Rishton Chairman
Appointed to the Board
September 2016.
Skills and experience:
John Rishton has over 40 years’ business experience gained in a variety of companies, industries and roles, including nearly 14 years as a chief executive or chief financial officer.
He has a BA in Economics from Nottingham University and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
Previous roles
Chief Executive of Rolls Royce Group plc, Chief Executive and President of the Dutch international retailer, Royal Ahold NV (and prior to that, its Chief Financial Officer) and Chief Financial Officer of British Airways plc.
Current external commitments
- Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of Unilever plc (until the 2022 Annual General Meeting)
- Chair of Informa plc
Committee membership
- Chair of the Nomination Committee
- Member of the Remuneration Committee
Rupert Soames Group Chief Executive Officer
Appointed to the Board
May 2014.
Skills and experience
Rupert Soames is an experienced chief executive officer having held the role for nearly 20 years in other companies before joining Serco as Chief Executive in 2014.
He studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University, where he is now a visiting fellow, and was President of the Oxford Union.
Previous roles
Chief Executive of Aggreko plc, and the Banking and Securities Division of Misys plc.
Senior Independent Director and a member of the Remuneration, Nomination and Audit Committees of Electrocomponents plc.
Current external commitments
Senior Independent Director and a member of the Audit, Nomination and Remuneration Committees of DS Smith Plc.
Committee membership
Member of the Corporate Responsibility Committee
Nigel Crossley Group Chief Financial Officer
Appointed to the Board
April 2021.
Skills and experience
Nigel Crossley is a strong and experienced finance director with over 30 years of experience in finance roles in international organisations. Nigel has worked for Serco since 2014 and he has been at the centre of the transformation of Serco and in restoring the reputation and financial stability of the Group. Prior to joining Serco, Nigel held senior finance roles at EMI, RHM plc and Procter & Gamble.
Previous roles
Director of Finance and transformation EMI, Group financial controller RHM, various finance roles at Procter and Gamble
Current external commitments
None.
Committee membership
None.
Lynne Peacock Senior Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointed to the Board
1 July 2017.
Skills and experience
Lynne Peacock has over 25 years’ senior management experience in a range of roles including brand development, mergers and acquisitions, change management and business transformation.
She has a BA (Hons) in Business Studies.
Previous roles
Non-Executive Chair of Standard Life Assurance Limited and Non-Executive Director and a member of the Nomination and Governance Committees of Standard Life Aberdeen plc.
Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of Scottish Water.
Senior Independent Director, Chair of the Remuneration Committee and member of the Audit, Risk and Nomination Committees of Nationwide Building Society.
Non-Executive Director and a member of the Audit and Risk, Nominations and Remuneration Committees of Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc.
Chief Executive of Woolwich plc and National Australia Bank Limited’s UK businesses.
Current external commitments
Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee of Royal Mail plc.
Senior Independent Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee of TSB Bank plc.
Chair of the charity, Learning Disability Network London.
Committee membership
- Chair of the Remuneration Committee
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Nomination Committee
Kirsty Bashforth Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointed to the Board
September 2017.
Skills and experience
Kirsty Bashforth is an experienced executive and board member within the construction, services, consumer goods, health and education industries, with expertise in change management safety and risk management, organisational culture and leadership.
She has an MA (Cantab) in Economics from the University of Cambridge and is the author of "Culture Shift - a practical guide to managing organizational culture".
She is currently Chief People and Communications Officer of Diaverum AB.
Previous roles
Non-Executive Director, Chair of the Safety, Health and Environment Committee and a member of the Nomination, Remuneration, Risk Management and Audit Committees of Kier Group plc.
Non-Executive Director and Chair of Remuneration Committee of Diaverum AB.
Chief Executive Officer of QuayFive Limited.
Senior executive at BP plc having spent over 24 years with the company in a variety of commercial roles, including Group Head of Organisational Effectiveness, where she led BP’s global agenda on culture, diversity and change management.
Non-Executive Director, Chair of the Remuneration & People Committee and a Member of the Audit & Risk and Reputation & Ethics Committee of GEMS Education.
Governor of Leeds Beckett University and Ashville College.
Current external commitments
- Chief People and Communications Officer of Diaverum AB
- Non-Executive Director, Chair of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Ethics & Compliance Committee of PZ Cussons plc
Committee membership
- Chair of the Corporate Responsibility Committee
- Member of the Remuneration Committee
- Member of the Group Risk Committee
- Member of the Nomination Committee
Eric Born Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointed to the Board
January 2019.
Skills and experience:
Eric Born is an experienced chief executive officer with experience in the aviation services, logistics and retail sectors.
He has an MBA from the University of Rochester, New York, and is a graduate of the University of Applied Sciences in Zurich.
Previous roles
Chief Executive Officer of Swissport International Limited, Wincanton plc and Non-Executive Director and member of the Audit, Nomination and Remuneration Committees of John Menzies plc.
Current external commitments
None.
Committee membership
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Corporate Responsibility Committee
- Member of the Nomination Committee
Ian El-Mokadem Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointed to the Board
1 July 2017.
Skills and experience:
Ian El-Mokadem is an experienced chief executive officer with international experience in business transformation and in acquisitions and disposals.
He has a BSc (Hons) in Economics and Statistics from University College London and an MBA from INSEAD.
Previous roles
Chief Executive Officer of V.Group and Exova Group plc, Group Managing Director, UK & Ireland of Compass Group plc and senior management positions with Centrica plc and the global management consultancy, Accenture.
Current external commitments
-
Chief Executive Officer of RWS Holdings plc
- Director of Roegate Consulting Limited
Committee Membership:
-
Chair of the Group Risk Committee
-
Member of the Audit Committee
-
Member of the Nomination Committee
Tim Lodge Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointed to the Board
21 February 2021
Tim Lodge will succeed John Rishton as Chairman of the Audit Committee on 21 April 2021.
Skills and experience
Tim Lodge is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and has a strong finance and accounting background with over 30 years’ experience in financial roles within international organisations, some 10 of which as Chief Financial Officer. He has considerable experience in leading significant strategic and operational transformation and driving commercial performance.
He has an MA (Cantab) in Classics from the University of Cambridge.
Previous roles
Chief Financial Officer at Tate & Lyle PLC and COFCO International and a Non-Executive Director and chair of the Audit Committee of Aryzta AG.
Current external commitments
- Non-Executive Director of SSP Group plc
- Non-Executive Director and chair of the Audit Committee of Arco Limited
- Director of An African Canvas (UK) Limited
- Chair of the management committee of the Cordwainers Livery Company
- Trustee of Gambia School Support
Committee Membership
- Chair of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Group Risk Committee
- Member of the Remuneration Committee
- Member of the Nomination Committee
Dame Sue Owen DCB Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointed to the Board
August 2020
Skills and experience
Dame Sue has significant experience of government and economic policy, having held senior roles in several government departments.
She has a MA in economics from Cambridge University and an MSc in Economics from Cardiff University.
Previous roles
Permanent Secretary for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Civil Service LGB&T (straight ally) Champion and overall Diversity and Inclusion Champion, chair of the Charity for Civil Servants and senior posts in the Department for Work and Pensions, Department for International Development, Foreign Office and HM Treasury.
Current external commitments
- Chair of the Royal Ballet Governors
- Specialist partner at Flint-Global
- Non-Executive Director of Pantheon International plc
- Non-Executive Director of Pool Reinsurance Company Limited and Pool Reinsurance (Nuclear) Limited
- Non-Executive Director of Methera-Global Communications
- Trustee of Opera Holland Park
- Trustee of The Windsor Leadership Trust
Committee membership
- Member of the Corporate Responsibility Committee
- Member of the Nomination Committee
- Member of the Group Risk Committee
- Designated Non-Executive Director for Employee Voice
Kru Desai Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointed to the Board
With effect from 21 October 2021
Skills and Experience
Kru Desai has over 30 years’ experience of working with the public and private sector in leading transformation of public services in the UK and internationally. She had held general management and board leadership roles in sales and operational delivery.
She has an MSc in Politics and Administration from Birkbeck College, University of London and an Executive MBA from the University of Bristol
Previous Roles
- Partner, KPMG LLP (UK)
- Non Executive Director and Chair of Remco – KPMG LLP (UK)
- Executive Director and Member of Group Management Board – Mouchel PLC
- Executive Director and Member of Management Board – Hedra PLC
- Managing Director – Atos (Uk)
Current external commitments
- Chair – Zinc Network
- Vice Chair City, University of London and Chair of Audit and Risk Committee
- Independent Non Executive – Buro Happold LLP
- Independent Commissioner – Geospatial Commission
Committee Membership
- Member of Corporate Responsibility Committee
- Member of Nomination Committee