Corporate Responsibility

Board of Directors

The Board formulates strategy and is responsible and accountable for the Group’s operational and financial performance. It has a formal schedule of matters reserved to it, such as:

Committing to major capital expenditure, acquisitions or disposals
Authorising material borrowings and any issue of equity securities
Approving the Group’s annual operating plan and budget
Approving the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts
Approving any interim dividend and recommending the final dividend
Approving and monitoring compliance with the Group’s Code of Business Conduct and associated whistleblowing policy
Approval of Group accounting policies
Review of operating and financial performance.
Establishing committees of the Board and approving their terms of reference, reviewing the activities and, where appropriate, ratifying their decisions.

The Board

David Montgomery - Executive Chairman

David Montgomery started his career in newspapers as chief sub-editor of the Sun between 1980 and 1982 before becoming assistant editor of the Sunday People in 1982 and editor of the News of the World between 1985 and 1987. As Managing Director of News UK Limited he acquired Today from the Lonrho group and managed its standalone operation as editor until its integration with the Sun and News of the World in 1991. Between 1992 and 1999 David Montgomery was Chief Executive of Mirror Group where he oversaw its restructuring which involved substantial profit improvement measures; the introduction of modern technology as part of the move of Mirror Group to Canary Wharf; the re-financing of both the Mirror Group and its pension funds; and the acquisitions of Midland Independent Newspapers plc, Independent Newspapers plc, the Belfast Newsletter and the Derry Journal, a 20% stake in Scottish Media Group plc and the Racing Post. David Montgomery is a member of the Nomination Committee.

John Allwood – Group Finance Director

John Allwood joined Mecom in May 2007 with responsibility for the development of the Group’s Enterprise initiatives, and was appointed to the Board as an executive director in February 2008, becoming Group Finance Director in March 2008. He is a chartered accountant with over thirty years’ financial and management experience in the media and telecommunications sector. John Allwood spent 11 years in various finance positions at News International, covering both newspapers and Sky Television. He joined the board of the Mirror Group plc in 1992 as Finance Director, becoming Chief Executive in the lead up to its merger with Trinity in 1999. Following the merger, he joined France Telecom as Chief Executive of its “Orange” UK operations, before moving to Telegraph Media Group Limited in 2004 as Managing Director.

Keith Allen ACA – Chief Operating Officer

Keith Allen joined the corporate finance division of Hambros Bank Limited in 1989 working with a variety of media clients. He became a director and head of the media team in 1997. In 1998 he left Hambros to become joint head of the newly established corporate finance division at BNP and following BNP's acquisition of Paribas in 2000 he assumed responsibility for the UK media team. Keith Allen joined Mecom in 2004, becoming Group Finance Director in June 2006, and then Chief Operating Officer in March 2008.

Sir Robin Miller - Senior Independent Non-Executive Director

Robin Miller joined EMAP plc in 1965 and was on the board from 1976 where he was variously Chief Executive and non-executive Chairman. He has been Chairman of HMV Group plc and a non-executive director of Channel 4 Television and is currently Chairman of Boosey & Hawkes. Sir Robin is Chairman of the Nomination Committee and sits on the Audit and Remuneration Committees.

Jan Houwert -Non-Executive Director

Jan Houwert joined the Mecom Board in November 2007 as an executive director following the acquisition of Koninklijke Wegener, where he was Chairman of the Management Board, having previously served as Vice-Chairman. Prior to joining Koninklijke Wegener, Jan Houwert was Managing Director of Oostelijke Dagbladen Combinatie in Enschede, and has held various other management positions in the publishing sector. Jan Houwert became a non-executive director of Mecom with effect from 8th May 2008.

Alasdair Locke - Non-Executive Director

Alasdair Locke is Executive Chairman of Abbott Group plc. He has been involved in the oil and shipping industry since 1974 and has held senior executive positions within the banking industry. Alasdair Locke sits on the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees.

John McNeil - Non-Executive Director

John McNeil was until recently Head of European Investment Banking at Citigroup Corporate and Investment Bank. He previously held a variety of senior positions at Citigroup, J. Henry Schroder & Co. Limited and Wood MacKenzie & Co. Limited. John McNeil is Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and sits on the Audit and Nomination Committees.

Richard North – Non-Executive Director

Richard North joined the Mecom Board in November 2007. He has wide-ranging experience in international consumer-facing businesses. He has been Chief Executive of Intercontinental Hotels Group and was previously Group Finance Director of Bass plc and The Burton Group Plc. He is currently Chairman of Woolworths Group plc and a Non-Executive Director of Majid Al Futteim Group LLC. Richard North is Chairman of the Audit Committee and sits on the, Remuneration and Nomination Committees.

Robert Pieterse – Non-Executive Director

Robert Pieterse joined the Mecom Board in November 2007 following the acquisition of Koninklijke Wegener, where he was a member of the Supervisory Board. He served as Chief Executive of international multimedia company Wolters Kluwer from 2000 to his retirement in 2003. Since retirement he has taken on a range of non-executive directorships, which currently include Mercurius Groep, Essent, CSM, Koninklijke Grolsch, and from 15th May 2008 he will join SAB Miller plc. He is also on the Board of VEUO, the association of Dutch listed companies, and EALIC, the European Association of Listed Companies. Robert Pieterse sits on the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees.

Paul Vickers - Company Secretary

Paul Vickers joined Mecom in July 2007 as Group Company Secretary and General Counsel.