Dr Vivienne Cox, DBE

Chair

Nationality: British

Appointed to the Board: December 2021

Independent: Yes

Skills and experience: Vivienne has a wealth of experience in executive and non-executive roles over more than 40 years, with a particular focus on sustainability, innovation and alternative energy.  Vivienne was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (‘CBE’) in 2016 for services to the economy and sustainability and was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (‘DBE’) in the 2022 New Year Honours List for services to sustainability, diversity and inclusion in business. Vivienne holds an MA (Honours) in chemistry from Oxford University, an MBA from INSEAD and honorary doctorates from the University of Hull and the University of Hertfordshire.

Previous roles: Vivienne’s previous non-executive roles include serving on the boards of Eurotunnel plc, BG Group plc and Rio Tinto plc, as senior independent director of Pearson plc, as chair of Vallourec SA and as the lead non-executive director for the UK Department for International Development. She also chaired Climate Change Capital, a private asset management and advisory group developing solutions for climate change and resource depletion.  Until recently she was a non-executive director of Stena AB in Sweden and GSK as well as GSK’s workforce engagement director.

Other significant appointments: Vivienne is currently a non-executive director of Haleon plc and Venterra Group plc (a non-listed company), chair of the Rosalind Franklin Institute and deputy chair of the Said Business School in Oxford.

Specific contribution to the Company’s long-term success: Vivienne’s extensive board, corporate governance and sector experience, as well as her leadership in and passion for sustainability and diversity matters, enables strong leadership of the Board.

Jakob Sigurdsson

Chief Executive Officer , BSc MBA

Nationality: Icelandic

Appointed to the Board: October 2017

Independent: No

Skills and experience: Jakob holds a BSc in chemistry from the University of Iceland and an MBA from Northwestern University in the US. His executive responsibilities have spanned marketing, supply chain, business development, strategy and M&A, with particular emphasis on growth in new or developing markets.

Previous roles: Jakob has more than 25 years’ experience in large multinational companies, both listed and private, in specialty chemicals, plastics manufacturing and bio-tech, including nine years with Rohm & Haas (now part of Dow Chemical) in the US. He was chief executive at Alfesca, Promens and VIS.  He has also served on the Board of the University of Iceland and the Technology Development Fund of Iceland.

Other significant appointments: Non-executive director of Coats Group plc.

Specific contribution to the Company’s long-term success: Jakob brings his diverse and international background in chemicals coupled with wider business, executive and non-executive experience to inspire and lead the Group.

Ian Melling

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Nationality: British

Appointed to the Board: 4 July 2022

Skills & Experience: Ian is a Chartered Accountant and holds a first class master’s degree in chemistry from Oxford University in the UK.

Previous Roles: Most recently Ian held the role of Senior Vice-President, Corporate Finance and R&D for Smith & Nephew plc, the medical technology company, having served as Interim Chief Financial Officer during 2020.  Ian has worked in a number of senior finance roles in the UK and internationally for Smith & Nephew, including those with divisional and functional responsibility, having joined the Group in 2006.  He was Senior Vice-President Group Finance for five years until October 2021.  Ian started his career and qualified as a Chartered Accountant at Deloitte LLP.

Other significant appointments: Ian is a member of the UK Endorsement Board Preparer Advisory Group.

Specific Contribution to the Company’s long-term success: Ian contributes his significant financial experience as well as his background in the medical device sector which is relevant to the Company’s growth plans.

Jane Toogood, OBE

Non-executive Director , MA Hons

Nationality: British

Appointed to the Board: September 2015

Independent: Yes

Skills and experience: Jane has a wealth of experience across a number of business management, senior commercial and business development roles within the global chemicals industry. Jane holds an MA in natural sciences (chemistry) from the University of Oxford and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Previous roles: Until recently Jane was the chief executive of Catalyst Technologies at Johnson Matthey Plc having previously led the precious metals division.  Jane has had senior roles at Borealis, ICI and Uniqema and as a non-executive director for the NHS.  Jane recently served as the UK Hydrogen Champion and her report to the UK Government was published in March 2023.

Other significant appointments: Jane is a non-executive Director at Norsk Hydro ASA and Co Chairs the UK Hydrogen Delivery Council.

Specific contribution to the Company’s long-term success: Jane brings strategic and industry expertise and insights drawing on her extensive international experience across multiple sectors. Jane is a current senior executive leading growth and transformation in a portfolio of businesses to meet future market demands including decarbonisation, the energy transition and deployment of hydrogen and circularity.

Janet Ashdown

Non-executive Director, BSc

Nationality: British

Appointed to the Board: February 2018

Independent: Yes

Skills and experience: Janet has over 30 years’ experience in the international energy sector working across the value chain from customer facing through to manufacturing in increasingly senior roles. With an additional 10+ years as a non-executive Director.

Previous roles: Janet had a distinguished career working for BP plc for 30 years where her last role was head of the UK Fuels Business Unit. She was CEO of Harvest Energy, an international private equity backed business, from 2010 to 2012. She was previously non-executive director at SIG plc, Coventry Building Society and Marshalls plc.

Other significant appointments: Janet is a non-executive director and chair of the Corporate Sustainability committee and Remuneration committee of RHI Magnesita NV, senior independent director and chair of the Projects & Programs Committee of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and a non-executive director of Stolt-Nielsen Norway AS.

Specific contribution to the Company’s long-term success: Janet has extensive international executive and non-executive experience. She has experience of chairing remuneration committees across different sectors for over ten years and has now been chairing sustainability committees for 5+ years.

Brendan Connolly

Non-executive Director, BSc

Nationality: British

Tenure: Appointed to the Board February 2018.

Skills and expertise: Brendan has over 35 years’ experience in the international oil and gas industry serving in a number of senior executive roles.

Previous roles:  Until 2013, Brendan was a senior executive at Intertek Group plc and had previously been CEO of Moody International (acquired by Intertek in 2011). Prior to Moody, Brendan was managing director of Atos Origin UK, senior independent director and chair of the remuneration committee of Synthomer plc and until June 2024 was an independent director on the board of Applus Services S.A.

Other significant appointments: Brendan is a non-executive director of Pepco Group N.V. and on one private equity board.

Specific contribution to the Company’s long-term success: With extensive executive and non-executive experience, Brendan brings operational, commercial and strategic expertise and insights; his role as the designated Non-executive Director for Workforce Engagement enhances the Board’s understanding of the views of employees and the culture of the Company.

David Thomas

Non-executive Director, MA FCA

Nationality: British

Appointed to the Board: May 2018

Independent: Yes

Skills and experience: David is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales, and has deep experience in a broad range of finance activities within listed companies as both a senior executive and as an audit professional.

Previous roles: David was CFO at Invensys plc from 2011 until his retirement in 2014, having held senior roles across the business since 2002. Prior to joining Invensys, he was a senior partner in Ernst & Young specialising in long-term industrial contracting business and was a member of the Auditing Standards Board.  Until May 2023 he was Interim Chair of Dialight plc as well as Chair of the Nomination Committee, having previously served as senior independent director and Chair of the Audit Committee.

Other significant appointments: None.

Specific contribution to the Company’s long-term success: David contributes his expertise in finance and his understanding of the investment community and regulators as both a Board member and Chair of the Audit Committee, as well as his industry knowledge to enhance the risk lens for Board decision making.

Ros Rivaz

Non-executive Director, BSc Hons, Honorary DSc

Nationality: British

Appointed to the Board: May 2020

Independent: Yes

Skills and experience: Ros holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in chemistry and an honorary doctorate from Southampton University, and has deep international experience in the areas of supply chain management, logistics, manufacturing, IT, procurement and systems in the engineering, manufacturing and chemicals industries.

Previous roles: Ros’ executive career spans nearly 30 years. She held senior executive roles at Exxon, Tate & Lyle, ICI, Diageo and Premier Foods. Ros served as global chief operating officer for Smith & Nephew from 2011 to 2014. She was non-executive director at ConvaTec plc, RPC Group plc, Boparan Holdings Limited, Rexam plc and CEVA Logistics AG and has also previously served as chair of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and as a non-executive director of the Ministry of Defence Equipment and Support board and until September 2024 was senior independent director, employee engagement director and chair of the remuneration committee of Computacenter plc .

Other significant appointments: Ros is the lead independent director of Aperam SA and chair at privately owned Anglian Water.

Specific contribution to the Company’s long-term success: Ros’ strong track record as both a non-executive and executive across a range of listed companies, particularly in the medical industry, is instrumental in driving growth and supporting the Chair in her role as Senior Independent Director.

Urmi Prasad Richardson

Non-Executive Director, MSc, MBA

Nationality: USA

Appointed to the Board: May 2024

Independent: Yes

Skills and experience: Urmi has a wealth of global experience in executive and non-executive roles over a 25 year period.  She has a particular focus on life sciences, biotechnology, medical and innovation-based businesses.

Previous Roles: Urmi started her career with G.D. Searle (a Pfizer company) and has worked throughout Europe, the US, and Asia Pacific.  Her executive career includes roles at The Linde Group, where she was Global Head of Healthcare, at Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics, and at Foundation Medicine (a Roche company).

Other significant appointments: Urmi is President EMEA of Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Specific contribution to the Company’s long-term success:  Urmi has extensive global experience in strategy, business development, commercial operations and product commercialisation in Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia and the Americas. Her wealth of relevant experience in medical and science-based innovation will be valuable as Victrex unlocks the true potential of its Medical business.