Our board

Skills and experience

Giles is the founder and Managing Partner of EPIC Investment Partners LLP, an independent investment manager, advisory and placement agent and administrator. Giles is a director of its subsidiary EPIC Investment Partners (UK) Limited, the investment manager of ESO Investments 2 Limited, the Company’s largest shareholder. Since 2001, Giles has led over 30 buyout, turnaround, distressed and growth capital transactions. Many of these transactions have made multiple bolt‑on acquisitions in the UK and overseas.

Other roles

Giles is currently the Non‑Executive Chair of Whittard of Chelsea.

Skills and experience

John was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Group in 2005 having originally joined Luceco in 1997. John led the original management buyout of Luceco from a listed plc in 2000 and led the secondary buyout with EPIC Investment Partners LLP (formerly EPIC Private Equity LLP) in 2005. Since then, John has led the development of the Group’s Chinese operations. John began his career with Knox D’Arcy Management Consultants following his graduation from the University of Oxford with a degree in Economics.

Other roles

John holds no other listed or non-listed directorships.

Skills and experience

Will assumed the position of Chief Financial Officer on 1 April 2023. Will joined the Group as a Non-Executive Director in 2019 and was Chair of the Audit Committee from October 2021 to January 2023. Will previously held the position of Chief Financial Officer for GKN Aerospace, the UK-headquartered global aerospace technology leader. He has held a number of senior finance roles in a career with GKN that spanned over 20 years, including nine years as Head of Corporate Finance in which he oversaw GKN’s M&A activities. Prior to joining GKN, Will qualified as a Chartered Accountant at KPMG and worked in its Corporate Finance department.

Other roles

Will holds no other listed or non-listed directorships.

Skills and experience

Matt stepped down from the role of Chief Financial Officer on 31 March 2023. Matt joined from FTSE 100 listed multinational building materials distribution company Ferguson plc, where he most recently spent five years as Finance Director for its market-leading US Blended Branches business, based in the USA. Prior to that, Matt held other senior finance roles at Ferguson, including Group Financial Controller and Strategic Planning Manager, and at construction products manufacturer BPB plc. Matt qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG LLP and holds a degree in Engineering Science from the University of Oxford.

Other roles

Matt held no other listed or non-listed directorships.

Skills and experience

Pim joined the Board as Senior Independent Non-Executive Director in 2020 and became a member of the Audit Committee in October 2021, bringing extensive Board-level international manufacturing experience to the Group. Pim is Chief Executive Officer of the leading flexible packaging manufacturer Constantia Flexibles. Previously, he spent 12 years at RPC Group Plc, initially as Chief Financial Officer and then as Chief Executive Officer. Pim was also Chair of the Audit Committee and Senior Independent Director of Avon Rubber plc from March 2015 to January 2021.

Other roles

Pim is Chief Executive Officer of Constantia Flexibles.

Skills and experience

Caroline joined the Board as an independent Non‑Executive Director and was Chair of the Audit Committee from October 2016 to October 2021. She has managed divisions of FTSE 100 groups and AIM businesses with international industrial and technology operations and has worked as a corporate finance adviser with various leading banks. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and has chaired audit committees of listed companies for the past 20 years. She holds a degree and PhD in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge and an MBA from the University of London.

Other roles

Caroline is currently a Non-Executive Director of two other listed companies: IP Group plc and WAG Payment Solutions plc.

Skills and experience 

Tim joined the Group as an independent Non-Executive Director in 2016 and was appointed Chair of the Audit Committee on 19 January 2023. Previously, Tim has served as Group Chief Financial Officer at Olive Group Capital Limited, a Dubai‑based security solution provider, and as Chief Financial Officer and an Executive Director at Dangote Cement plc, Nigeria’s largest cement producer. Tim joined KPMG LLP UK in 1991 and became a partner in the firm’s Transactional Services business in 2006. Tim has considerable accounting and advisory experience including stock market listings, reverse takeovers, management buyouts and acquisitions. Tim is a qualified Chartered Accountant.

Other roles

Tim is currently a Principal at NM Capital.

Skills and experience

Julia joined the Group as a Non-Executive Director in June of 2022 and became a member of the Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee from October 2022. Julia has spent her career in commercial leadership roles within large retail and FMCG organisations. She has extensive international experience in developing and implementing customer-focused commercial strategy, including within the e-commerce channel. Julia is Chief Executive Officer of Linnaeus, a leading veterinary health business in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Previously, she led the Commercial & Marketing function within the International Retail division of Walgreens Boots Alliance and was Managing Director of its European retail business.

Other roles

Julia is Chief Executive Officer of Linnaeus.