Board Of Directors

Geoff Drabble was appointed Non Executive Director and Chairman Designate in May 2019 and will succeed Gareth Davis as Chairman at the 2019 Annual General Meeting, subject to shareholder approval. Prior to joining Ferguson, Geoff was Chief Executive of Ashtead Group plc, the FTSE 100 industrial equipment rental company for 12 years. Geoff was previously an executive director of The Laird Group plc where he was responsible for its Building Products division. Prior to joining The Laird Group, he held a number of senior management positions at Black & Decker.

Appointment

• May 2019 (appointed as Non Executive Director and Chairman Designate)

Key strengths
Extensive experience in the distribution, technology and manufacturing sectors, particularly in the USA.

External appointments
Non Executive Director at Howden Joinery Group Plc.

Committee membership

• Audit Committee
• Remuneration Committee
• Nominations Committee

Mr Martin joined the Company as Chief Financial Officer and assumed management responsibility for the Group’s Canadian business between 2013 and 2016. Previously he was a partner at Alchemy Partners, the private equity group, and prior to that was Chief Financial Officer of Travelex Group, the international payments business, and Hays Plc.

Appointment

• 2016 (appointed as Group Chief Executive)
• 2010 (appointed to the Board as Group Chief Financial Officer)

Key strengths
Extensive operational and financial management experience of running large international businesses. Mr Martin has strong leadership capabilities and significant experience in strategic development and driving improvements in operational performance.

External appointments
Non Executive Director of Ocado Group plc

Committee membership

• Chairman of the Major Announcements Committee
• Disclosure Committee
• Chairman of the Executive Committee

Mr Powell, a chartered management accountant, joined the Company on 1 June 2017 as Group Chief Financial Officer. From July 2014 until his appointment at Ferguson Mr Powell was Group Finance Director of BBA Aviation plc, one of the world’s leading providers of aviation support services. Before joining BBA he served as CFO of AZ Electronic Materials plc and CFO of Nippon Sheet Glass, based in Tokyo. Prior to that he spent 15 years at Pilkington plc in a variety of operational and finance roles.

Appointment

• 2017

Key strengths
Considerable financial management and operational experience. Experience of running multi-national businesses with significant US operations.

External appointments
Non Executive Director of Low & Bonar plc

Committee membership

• Major Announcements Committee
• Chairman of the Disclosure Committee
• Chairman of the Treasury Committee
• Executive Committee

Mr Murphy has a strong track record of driving sustainable profitable growth. He is responsible for all of the Group’s businesses based in the USA. From 2007 until his appointment as Chief Executive of Ferguson Enterprises on 1 August 2017, Mr Murphy was Chief Operating Officer of Ferguson Enterprises and a member of its senior leadership team. He joined Ferguson Enterprises as an Operations Manager in 1999 and subsequently held several leadership positions including three years as Vice President of the US Waterworks division.

Appointment

• 2017

Key strengths 
Strong leadership skills and deep industry knowledge. Strong track record of driving sustainable profitable growth.

External appointments
None

Committee membership 

• Executive Committee
• Major Announcement Committee

Ms Bamford was formerly a founder and Director of Cantos Communications, an online corporate communications service provider (2001 to 2011) and until 30 June 2018 a Non Executive Director of Barratt Developments plc. Previously, she was a Director of J Henry Schroder & Co, where she worked for 12 years in a number of roles and, prior to that, worked in corporate finance for Barclays de Zoete Wedd.

Appointment

• 2011

Key strengths
Extensive boardroom and City experience. Ms Bamford has broad business experience having held senior advisory roles in both the UK and USA across a range of sectors.

External appointments
Consultant at Spencer Stuart.

Committee membership

• Audit Committee
• Remuneration Committee
• Nominations Committee

Ms. Halligan was the Chief Marketing Officer at Walmart.com, where she served as an Officer of Walmart, Inc. After Walmart, she was SVP Sales and Marketing of PowerReviews, a social commerce SaaS technology company between 2010 and 2012. Prior to Walmart, she held senior marketing and internet roles at retailer Williams-Sonoma Inc. and was responsible for leading efforts to launch its brands, such as Pottery Barn, on the web. She held senior marketing roles at online jewelry disruptor Blue Nile Inc. before becoming an Associate Partner at global brand and marketing strategy consultancy, Prophet. Ms Halligan also was an independent board director at private company, Wilton Brands from 2016-2018.

Appointment

• 2019

Key strengths
Experienced senior executive with extensive digital transformation, marketing and board experience and a strong track record in the retail, multi-channel, data analytics and digital commerce arenas.

External appointments
Non Executive Director at FLIR Systems, Inc. and Ulta Beauty, Inc.

Committee membership

• Audit Committee
• Remuneration Committee
• Nominations Committee

Mr Murray was, from 2010 until August 2017, a Member of the Supervisory Board of HeidelbergCement AG and was previously a Non Executive Director of International Power plc (2007 to 2011). Prior to that, he spent 19 years at Hanson plc and was Group Chief Executive between 2002 and 2007. From 2007 until 2008, he was a member of the Management Board of HeidelbergCement AG. Mr Murray is a qualified chartered management accountant.

Appointment

• 2013

Key strengths
Considerable international operational experience and extensive executive management experience within global businesses.

External appointments
Non Executive Director of Owens-Illinois, Inc.

Committee membership

• Major Announcement Committee
• Audit Committee
• Remuneration Committee
• Nominations Committee

Mr Schmitt was, from 2015 until 2018, Chief Commercial Officer and a Member of the Management Board of Schenker AG, a global freight forwarding, transportation and logistics company. Prior to that he was the Chief Executive Officer of AquaTerra Corporation (from 2013 to 2015), Chief Executive Officer of Purolator Inc (2010 to 2012) and held various senior leadership positions at FedEx corporation between 1998 and 2010, including Chief Executive Officer of FedEx Global Supply Chain Services and Senior Vice President of FedEx Solutions. Mr Schmitt also served as a Non Executive Director of Zooplus AG from 2013 to 2016.

Appointment

• 2019

Key strengths
Extensive operational, financial and board experience across US and global businesses.

External appointments
Chief Executive Officer of Forward Air Corporation, Inc.

Committee membership

• Audit Committee
• Remuneration Committee
• Nominations Committee

Until September 2016 Mr Shapland was Chairman of Poundland Group plc. He was a Non Executive Director of Ladbrokes plc and was Chairman of its Audit Committee until 2015. Between 2012 and 2013, he was Chief Executive Officer of Carpetright plc. From 2005 to 2010, Mr Shapland was Chief Financial Officer of J Sainsbury plc and from 2010 to 2011, Group Development Director. He was also Chairman of Sainsbury’s Bank. Prior to that, Mr Shapland held a variety of senior finance and operational positions at Carpetright plc, Superdrug Stores plc, the Burton Group and Arcadia.

Appointment

• 2014

Key strengths
Considerable commercial, operational, financial management and broad public company experience in major consumer businesses.

External appointments
Chairman of Topps Tiles Plc.

Committee membership

• Chairman of the Audit Committee
• Remuneration Committee
• Nominations Committee

Dr Shouraboura was a Vice President at Amazon.com, Inc. where she served on the senior leadership team. After eight years at Amazon, she founded Hointer Inc., a consultancy that helps retailers create innovative in-store experiences and she stepped down in October 2018. Prior to her time at Amazon Dr Shouraboura was Head of System Development for Trading at Exelon Power Team, Senior Principal at Diamond Management and Technology and Co-founder and Vice President, IT at Starlight Multimedia Inc. in addition to other technology and multimedia roles.

Appointment

• 2017

Key strengths
Considerable expertise in running complex logistics and supply chain activities, with insight in cutting edge technology and deep knowledge of e-commerce.

External appointments
Member of the Supervisory Board of X5 Retail Group N.V.

Committee membership

• Audit Committee
• Remuneration Committee
• Nominations Committee

Ms Simmonds was Group People Director of EasyJet plc from 2015 until 2017. Before joining EasyJet plc, she was Group HR Director of TUI Travel plc from 2010 until 2015, HR Director for TUI UK from 2007 to 2010 and a divisional Director of First Choice Holidays PLC until the business was merged with TUI AG in 2007 to form TUI Travel PLC. Ms Simmonds was also a member of the Supervisory Board of TUI Deutschland, GmbH and a Director of PEAK Adventure Travel Group Limited. 

Appointment

• 2014

Key strengths
Extensive executive remuneration and human resources experience within large international businesses

External appointments
Group Chief People Officer of VEON Ltd. 

Committee membership

• Chairman of the Remuneration Committee
• Audit Committee
• Nominations Committee

Graham was appointed Company Secretary on 1 August 2015. He is Secretary to the Board and all of the Committees of the Board. Graham, a solicitor, joined the Group in August 2004 as the General Counsel of its UK business and was Group Deputy Company Secretary from November 2012 to July 2015.

Appointment

• 2015

Responsibilities
Graham is responsible for the Company's company secretariat function.

External appointments
None

Committee membership

• Secretary to the Board and all of the Committees of the Board.
• Graham regularly attends Board Meetings but is not a member of the Board.