Board of directors

Peter was appointed Chairman on 15 May 2009 and a non-executive director on 1 January 2009. He was Chairman and Chief Executive of O₂ until January 2008 and is a non-executive director of Telefónica. Prior to this he held senior positions with BT (from 1993 to 2001), UNITEL and Mars. He is a member of the Telecoms and IT Advisory boards of Macquarie Bank and Apax Private Equity and is a member of the Advisory Board on Strategy of Henley Management College. Age 58.‡#

Chris became Chief Executive of Ladbrokes plc in 2006. He was previously Chief Executive of Ladbrokes Worldwide and was appointed to the Board in 2000. He joined Ladbrokes in 1991 and became Managing Director in 1995. Prior to joining he held a number of senior positions with Allied Domecq. He is currently Vice Chairman of the Association of British Bookmakers, Chairman of the Bookmakers Committee, a Board member of the Horserace Betting Levy Board and of the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board. He is a non-executive and senior independent director of Game Group plc. Age 52.

Richard was appointed to the Board in January 2009. A business school graduate, he joined Ladbrokes in 2005 as Retail Commercial Director. He was appointed Managing Director UK Retail in 2006 and assumed responsibility for Ireland in September 2008. He previously held senior management positions with Dixons and Asda. Age 40.

John joined the Board in 2006. He has led Ladbrokes eGaming since its creation in 2000. In addition to Remote Betting and Gaming he has responsibility for trading operations and the Spanish business. Since joining Ladbrokes in 1992, he has had senior responsibility for marketing, public relations, public affairs, property and business development. Prior to joining Ladbrokes he held senior positions with Thorn EMI. He is a non-executive director of Telecity Group plc and is Vice Chairman of the Remote Gambling Association. Age 49.

Brian rejoined the Board in 2007. As well as being Finance Director, he has responsibility for the Belgian and Italian businesses. Until the sale of Hilton International in 2006, he was the Deputy Chief Executive (from 2000) and Group Finance Director (from 1995) of the Company, then named Hilton Group plc. Prior to that he held senior financial positions in Geest and Schlumberger. He is a non-executive director of The Miller Group Limited and was a non-executive director of Scottish & Newcastle plc and of Hays plc. Age 55.

Nicholas was appointed a non-executive director in 2002. He is a qualified chartered accountant and business school graduate. He has been an investment banker for 35 years. After working at Schroders for 12 years, he joined Lazard in 1987 as a Managing Director and was subsequently Vice Chairman for 10 years. He is now a Senior Adviser to Lazard and an Independent Director of Candover Investments plc and Newbury Racecourse plc. He was Chairman of the National Stud from 1991 to 2000 and is a member of The Jockey Club. Age 63.†‡

Sly was appointed a non-executive director on 18 November 2009. Since 2003 she has been Chief Executive of Trinity Mirror plc. From 1989 to 2003 she held senior positions with IPC Media Limited including Chief Executive from 1999. Previously she was senior independent director and remuneration committee Chairman of EMI plc and a non-executive director of Littlewoods Plc. She is a non-executive director of the Press Association, President of NewstrAid and a governor of The English National Ballet School. Age 48.

John was appointed a non-executive director in 2006. Currently Chairman of Jarvis Hotels Limited, he is also non-executive Chairman of Sandown Park and a member of The Jockey Club. He was previously a non-executive director at United Racecourses and non-executive Chairman of Sporting Index. From 1979 to 1990, he was an executive director of the Company, then named Ladbroke Group plc, and Chairman of Hilton International from 1987 to 1990. Age 67.#

Christopher was appointed a non-executive director in 2003. He is currently the Chair of International Personal Finance plc and Chair of the national tourism body, VisitBritain. Until 2006 he was President and Chief Executive of Visa International. Prior to this he was Group Chief Executive of Bradford & Bingley plc, Group Chief Executive of Thomas Cook and also held several senior management positions with American Express. He is a Steward of Henley Royal Regatta, Chair of The Windsor Leadership Trust and Chair of the Almeida Theatre. Age 60.‡#

Darren was appointed a non-executive director on 18 November 2009. He is currently Chief Financial Officer of J Sainsbury plc and Chairman of Sainsbury’s Bank plc. He was previously Group Finance Director of Carpetright plc from 2002 to 2005 and Finance Director of Superdrug Stores plc from 2000 to 2002. Between 1988 and 2000, he held a number of senior financial and operational management positions with Arcadia plc. Age 43.†

Henry was appointed a non-executive director in 2006. He was the Finance Director at ITV plc from 2003 to 2006 and at Granada Group plc from 1993 to 2003. He is a non-executive director of Legal & General plc, Standard Bank plc, The Merchants Trust PLC and New Look Group. He was a non-executive director of Emap plc, BSkyB plc, Independent Television News Limited and Ashtead Group plc, of which he was also Chairman. Age 61.†#

Pippa was appointed a non-executive director in 2004. She joined AlixPartners Limited, London, the specialist performance improvement and turnaround firm as a Managing Director in 2003. She previously held senior positions with Pearson plc and was Group Finance Director of Courtaulds Textiles plc between 1993 and 1999. She was a non-executive director of Arcadia Group plc. Age 47.†