Our Group Board

John Connolly, Non-executive director/chairman of the board

Non-executive director/Chairman of the board

Appointed: June 2012

Skills and experience: A chartered accountant with extensive experience working in a global business environment and in sectors with strategic relevance to the Group. 

Career experience: Spent his career until May 2011 with global professional services firm Deloitte, was Global Managing Director and then Global Chairman between 2007 and 2011. He was Senior Partner and CEO of the UK Partnership from 1999 until his retirement from the firm.

Current external commitments: Chairman of the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity board of trustees and director of a number of private companies.

Ashley Almanza, chief executive officer

Chief executive officer

Appointed: May 2013

Skills and experience: Degree in Commerce from University of Natal and an MBA from the London Business School. Extensive board and executive management experience in complex international businesses. 

Career experience: A number of senior executive roles at BG Group from 1993 to 2012, including CFO from 2002 to 2011 and Executive Vice President from 2009 to 2012, during which he led BG Group’s UK, European and Central Asian businesses and the group’s commercial strategy in Central Asia. A non-executive director of Schroders plc between 2011 and 2016. 

Current external commitments: Chairman of the International Security Ligue.

John Daly, Non-Executive Director

Non-executive director

Appointed: June 2015

Skills and experience: Diploma in marketing and an MBA from the University of Dublin. Significant executive management experience in major international businesses with extensive knowledge of Asia and the Middle East. 

Career experience: Worked in sales and marketing in the pharmaceutical industry before joining British American Tobacco (BAT) in 1994 and held various executive leadership positions worldwide over the next 20 years at BAT including COO & Regional Director for Asia Pacific.

Elisabeth Fleuriot, Non-executive director

Non-executive director

Appointed: June 2018

Skills and experience: Over 20 years’ experience in senior executive management roles in FMCG multinational companies based in Europe, the US and Asia. Elisabeth holds a BA in Economy, Finance and Marketing and an MA in Economic Sciences from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris. She received the title of Knight of the Ordre National de la Legion d'honneur (France's highest honour)

Career experience: Chief Executive of Thai Union Europe & Africa between 2013 and 2017, having spent the previous 12 years with the Kellogg Company, as Senior Vice President, Emerging Markets between 2011 and 2013, Regional Vice President, France, Benelux, Russia and Turkey between 2007 and 2011 and President, France, Benelux, Nordics and South Africa between 2001 and 2006. Earlier in her career she was General Manager, Europe for Yoplait between 1997 and 2001, having spent the first 18 years of her career with the Danone group.

Current external commitments:Non-executive director of Stora Enso Oyj.

Winnie Kin Wah Fok, Non-executive director

Non-executive director

Appointed: October 2010

Skills and experience: An auditor by training, with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of New South Wales, Australia and fellowship or membership of accounting bodies in Australia, Hong Kong and England.

Career experience: International board and senior management experience with extensive knowledge of Asian markets and strong involvement in Scandinavia. Involved in management positions in finance, audit and corporate advisory work and has had a wide range of roles in private equity firms investing with a particular focus in Asia.

Current external commitments: Senior advisor to Wallenberg Foundations AB; non-executive director of Volvo Car Corporation; and SEB AB and investment committee member for the HOPU Investment Fund.

Steve Mogford, Non-executive/Senior Independent director

Non-executive director/Senior independent director

Appointed: May 2016

Skills and experience: First Class BSc Honours Degree in Astrophysics, Maths and Physics from Queen Elizabeth College, University of London. Extensive experience of delivery of complex programmes in the defence, infrastructure and utilities market.

Career experience: Served a 30-year career with British Aerospace, later BAE Systems, during which time he held several senior management positions before becoming COO, with particular responsibility for programmes, major projects and customer support, and a member of the BAE Systems plc board. Chief executive of SELEX Galileo for four years prior to joining United Utilities Group plc in 2011 as CEO.

Current external commitments: CEO of United Utilities Group plc.

John Ramsay, non-executive director

Non-executive director

Appointed: January 2018

Skills and experience: A chartered accountant with extensive international experience in innovation-focused businesses.

Career experience: Began his career at KPMG and developed his experience in emerging markets, working in Malaysia and Latin America for the manufacturer ICI. In 1993 was appointed Finance Head, Asia Pacific for Zeneca Agrochemicals and later promoted to Group Financial Controller. In 2000 he joined Syngenta AG, as Chief Financial Controller, later being promoted to CFO until his retirement in 2016. Whilst at Syngenta he also served as interim CEO for nine months.

Current external commitments: Member of the Supervisory Board of Koninkijke DSM N.V and a director of RHI Magnesita N.V.

Paul Spence, Non-executive director 

Non-executive director

Appointed: January 2013

Skills and experience: Degree in economics and decision science from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. In-depth knowledge of outsourcing in both the public and private sectors and extensive international experience in key emerging markets. 

Career experience: Served a 30-year career with Capgemini, starting as managing partner of mid-Atlantic information and technology for Ernst & Young. He went on to gain significant international experience for 16 years as managing partner of Ernst & Young Consulting Australia, CEO of Capgemini Ernst & Young in Asia and then CEO in the UK. Then served on Capgemini’s executive management committee for eight years as deputy group CEO and then CEO of Capgemini Global Outsourcing Services.

Current external commitments: Non‑executive director of Actual Experience plc.

Barbara Thoralfsson, Non-executive director

Non-executive director

Appointed: July 2016

Skills and experience: MBA in marketing and finance, Columbia University, New York and a BA in psychology, Duke University, North Carolina. International executive and senior management experience in using technology to meet customers’ needs and develop new business models. Strong knowledge of North America, Latin America, Scandinavia and Asia.

Career and experience: After an early career in marketing, held senior management roles in the consumer goods and telecommunications sectors including CEO of NetCom ASA, Norway’s second largest mobile network operator, between 2001 and 2005 and has subsequently served on the board of several international technology companies.

Current external commitments: Non-executive director of Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ), Essity Aktiebolag (publ) and Hilti AG.

Tim Weller, chief financial officer

Chief financial officer

Appointed: April 2013 as a non-executive director and chief financial officer since October 2016.

Skills and experience: BSc (Hons) Engineering Science degree from the University of Exeter. An accountant by training and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales with significant experience of the energy and utilities sectors. 

Career experience: Joined KPMG in 1985, rising to partnership in 1997 before joining Granada plc as director of financial control. He held CFO positions with Innogy. a leading integrated energy company at the time, RWE Thames Water and United Utilities Group plc. He was CFO of Cable & Wireless Worldwide plc between 2010 and 2011 and CFO of Petrofac Limited between 2011 and October 2016.

Current external commitments: Non‑executive director of the Carbon Trust.