Robert Walker (aged 65) was appointed as a non-executive director in September 2009 and Chairman at the AGM held on 17 May 2010. He is chairman of W H Smith PLC and Americana International Holdings Ltd and a non-executive director of Tate & Lyle PLC. He has previously been chairman of Williams Lea Group Ltd and BCA Europe Ltd, Chief Executive of Severn Trent Plc and held a number of senior posts with Pepsi Co Inc. He has also been a non-executive director of BAA plc, Signet Group Plc, Thomson Travel Group Plc and Wolseley plc.

Geoff Cooper (aged 55) joined the Company in February 2005 and was appointed Chief Executive on 1 March 2005. He is a chartered management accountant and worked in management consultancy before joining Gateway (now Somerfield plc) as Finance Director in 1990. In 1994 he became Finance Director of UniChem plc, subsequently Alliance UniChem plc (which later became part of Alliance Boots plc), where he was appointed Deputy Chief Executive in 2001. He is non-executive Chairman of Dunelm Group Plc.

Paul Hampden Smith (aged 49) is a chartered accountant and joined Sandell Perkins in 1988. Following the merger with Travis & Arnold, he was appointed regional finance director. In 1992, he became Finance Director of Travis Perkins Trading Company Limited and was appointed Finance Director of Travis Perkins plc in 1996. He is a non-executive director of Redrow plc.

John Carter (aged 48) joined Sandell Perkins as a management trainee in 1978. He held a number of regional management positions, before being appointed Managing Director, Operations in 1996, and a director of Travis Perkins plc in July 2001. He became Chief Operating Officer in February 2005, and is a member of the Health and Safety Committee.

Chris Bunker (aged 63) was appointed as a non-executive director in 2004. He is a chartered management accountant and was Finance Director of Thames Water plc, from 2000 until March 2004. He was previously Finance Director of Tarmac PLC and Westland Group PLC. He is a non-executive director of D S Smith Plc and formerly was a non-executive director of Mowlem plc, Baltimore Technologies plc and Xansa PLC. He is the Senior Independent Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Nominations and Remuneration Committees.

John Coleman (aged 57) was appointed as a non-executive director in 2005. He is a chartered management accountant and Chairman of AGA Rangemaster Group plc. He was Chief Executive of House of Fraser plc from 1996 to 2006 and previously Chief Executive of Texas Homecare and of a number of businesses within Burton Group PLC. He is a member of the Remuneration, Audit and Nominations Committees.

Andrew Simon O.B.E. (aged 64) was appointed as a non-executive director in 2006. He is a non-executive director of Finning International Inc., Management Consulting Group plc and SGL Carbon AG, and also served as non-executive chairman of Dalkia plc until the end of 2009. He was previously Chairman and / or Chief Executive of Evode Group plc from 1980 to 1993, and has also held non-executive directorships with Severn Trent Plc, Ibstock PLC, Laporte Plc, Associated British Ports Holdings PLC, and Brake Bros Holdings Ltd. He is chairman of the Remuneration and the Health and Safety Committees.

Philip Jansen (aged 43) was appointed as a non-executive director in April 2009. He is Group Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive of Europe for Sodexo, having joined that company in 2004 as Chief Executive, UK and Ireland. He was previously Chief Operating Officer of My Travel plc and Managing Director, Consumer Division of TeleWest Communications PLC, and also held senior positions with Proctor & Gamble and Dunlop Slazenger Group. He has also been a non-executive director of the Professional Cricketers' Association. He is a member of the Audit Committee.