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 (Chairman since April 2021)
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. Non-Executive Director of Associated British Ports, Allied Domecq and ICA Gruppen AB. Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of Unilever plc.
Current external commitments
- Chair of Informa plc
- Non-Executive Director of Majid Al Futtaim Properties LLC
Committee membership
- Chair of the Nomination Committee
- Member of the Remuneration Committee
Mark Irwin Group Chief Executive Officer
Appointed to the Board
January 2023
Skills and experience
Mark Irwin was appointed as Group Chief Executive Officer in January 2023 after serving as Chief Executive Officer, Serco UK and Europe since October 2020.
Mark has extensive international experience in business and operations management, holding numerous senior leadership positions in state-owned, public and private equity business environments.
Mark's formal education stems from Applied Science and Business, includes a Master of Business Administration from Victoria University and completion of Global Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Previous roles
Chief Executive Officer, Serco Asia Pacific from July 2014, following his appointment as Chief Operating Officer in January 2013 and promotion to Chief Executive Officer, Serco Australia and New Zealand in April 2013.
Leadership roles in several US based private equity portfolio businesses including Momentive Performance Materials and Nalco Company as well as China National Bluestar Group following Blackstone’s investment in the company. Prior to working in China, Mark spent eight years in the United States working for multinational companies including General Electric (GE), after commencing with GE in Australia.
Current external commitments
None.
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 an experienced Chief Financial Officer with over 30 years' experience in finance roles in international organisations. He has worked for Serco since 2014.
He has a BSc in Mathematics from Hull University.
Previous roles
Director of Finance and Transformation at EMI, Group Financial Controller of RHM plc and various finance roles at Procter & Gamble.
Current external commitments
None.
Committee membership
None.
Lynne Peacock Senior Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointed to the Board
July 2017
Skills and experience
Lynne Peacock has over 30 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 Committee and Audit Committee 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, Chair of the Environmental, Social, and Governance Committee and member of the Audit and Risk, Remuneration, and Nomination Committees of International Distributions Services plc (trading as Royal Mail)
- 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, energy, education and health industries, with expertise in change management, safety and risk management, organisational culture and leadership.
She has an MA in Economics from the University of Cambridge and is the author of "Culture Shift - a practical guide to managing organizational culture".
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.
Chief Business Officer, Non-Executive Director and Chair of Remuneration Committee of Diaverum AB.
Group Head of Organisational Effectiveness at bp plc and other global roles.
Non-Executive Director, Chair of the Remuneration & People Committee and a member of the Audit & Risk and Reputation & Ethics Committees of GEMS Education.
Governor of Leeds Beckett University and Ashville College.
Current external commitments
- Non-Executive Director, Chair of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Nomination and ESG Committees of PZ Cussons plc
- Director of QuayFive Limited
- Director of Northern Superchargers Limited
- Chief People and Culture Officer of Delinian
Committee membership
- Chair of the Corporate Responsibility Committee
- Member of the Group Risk Committee
- Member of the Nomination Committee
- Member of the Remuneration Committee
Kru Desai Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointed to the Board
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 the Remuneration Committee of KPMG LLP (UK)
Executive Director and Member of the Group Management Board of Mouchel Group plc
Executive Director and Member of the Management Board of Hedra plc
Managing Director of Atos (UK)
Independent Commissioner of the Geospatial Commission
Current external commitments
- Chair of the Zinc Network
- Vice Chair and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee of City, University of London
- Independent Non-Executive Director of Buro Happold Limited
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
July 2017
Skills and experience:
Ian El-Mokadem is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with international experience in business transformation and 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
February 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 eight of which were spent as Chief Financial Officer. He has considerable experience in leading significant strategic and operational transformation and driving commercial performance.
He has an MA 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 and Chair of the Audit Committee of SSP Group plc
- Senior Independent Director 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 Nomination Committee
- Member of the Remuneration Committee
Dame Sue Owen DCB Independent Non-Executive Director
Designated Non-Executive Director for Employee Voice
Appointed to the Board
August 2020
Skills and experience
Dame Sue Owen DCB has significant experience of government and economic policy, having held senior roles in several government departments.
She has an 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
- Supervisory Board of DAF NV
- Chair of the UK Debt Management Office Advisory Board
Committee membership
- Member of the Corporate Responsibility Committee
- Member of the Nomination Committee
- Member of the Group Risk Committee
Nickesha Graham-Burrell Group Company Secretary
Skills and experience
Nickesha was appointed as Group Company Secretary in September 2023 having previously gained governance experience in listed firms including OSB GROUP PLC and HSBC Holdings plc. As Group Company Secretary, she is responsible for advising the Board, through the Chair, on all governance matters. She is an Associate of the Chartered Governance Institute and studied law at University of Westminster. Nickesha recently completed the Serco Advanced Leadership Programme at Saïd Business School.