Board of directors

Ms B P Blow,
Non-Executive Chairman

Bridget Blow, 62, joined the Board on 1 July 2005 and on 4 October 2007, was appointed Non-Executive Chairman. Bridget is Chairman of the Nomination Committee and also a member of the Audit and Remuneration Committees. She is also Non-Executive Chairman of Trustmarque Solutions Limited and Non-Executive Deputy Chairman of the Coventry Building Society. Bridget was Chief Executive of ITNET plc from 1994 to 2005, leading a buyout from Cadbury Schweppes in 1995 and a full listing on the London Stock Exchange in 1998. She has received numerous business awards and was a Non-Executive Director of the Bank of England from 2000 to 2005. She was President of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 2008 to 2009.

M Ashley,
Chief Executive Officer

Mike Ashley, 43, joined the Group in October 2004. The following year he was appointed Managing Director of Bush Radio plc and in October 2006, he was promoted to Managing Director of the UK Consumer Electronics Division. He joined the Board in October 2007 and on 30 September 2009, he was appointed Chief Executive. Mike is a member of the Nomination Committee. Mike is responsible for developing and leading the business strategy of the Group. Prior to joining the Group Mike held senior Trading and Marketing positions with Boots the Chemist, Argos Ltd and Dixons Store Group and has considerable knowledge of the requirements of our retail customers.

A P Shearer, FCA,
Non-Executive Director

Tony Shearer, 62, joined the Board on 6 March 2008. Tony is Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committees. Formerly the Chief Executive of Singer & Friedlander, he is Non-Executive Chairman of Abbey Protection plc and Triple Plate Junction, both AIM traded. He is also Non-Executive Chairman of Caxton FX Ltd and Updata Ltd and a Non-Executive Director of Sanctuary Partners. Tony is a Chartered Accountant and brings to the Group a wealth of knowledge and experience in banking and commerce.

D B Harris, B.Sc (Econ),
Non-Executive Director

Daniel Harris, 51, joined the Group in1981. He became Marketing Director of Harvard International Ltd in 1983 and joined the Board when theCompany floated as Alba plc in 1987. He was Group Chief Executive Officer for seventeen years from April 1992 to September 2009. Daniel purchased the Group's property and medical electronics interests in September 2009 and remains on the Board as Non-Executive Director. He is a Director of Ovarian Cancer Action and West Ham United. Daniel read Economics at the London School of Economics.

G Brady,
Non-Executive Director

Geoff Brady, 57, joined the Group on 1 October 2010. Geoff is Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and was appointed as a member of the Audit Committee on 28 June 2011. Geoff is Non-Executive Chairman of Robert Dyas, a convenience non-food retailer and also Non-Executive Chairman of Harvey Jones Kitchens Ltd a prestige manufacturer, retailer and installer of English handmade kitchens. Geoff is also a Non-executive Director of Albemarle & Bond, a leading pawnbroking and retail financial services business that is traded on AIM. He is also a Non-Executive Director of Saul D Harrison Plc, a manufacturer of non-woven wiping cloths. Geoff has proved himself to be a very experienced retailer and as well as customer facing skills he brings substantial buying and supply chain knowledge to the Group.

R J Thompson BSc, ACA,
Group Finance Director

Robert Thompson, 33, was appointed Group Finance Director in September 2011. Robert joined the Group in January 2008 as Head of Finance and during his time with the Company has played a major role in its strategic transformation whilst also delivering significant cost savings and process improvements. Robert has also held senior finance positions with Homebase Ltd. Robert is a Chartered Accountant having qualified at PwC and previously read Mathematics at the University of Warwick.