Board of Directors

Term of office: Sir Patrick Brown joined the Board in January 1999 as Non-Executive Director, becoming Non-Executive Chairman in October 2002. Last re-elected by shareholders at the 2009 AGM, he will again stand for annual re-election at the AGM in October 2010.
Independent: On appointment.
Committee membership: Chairman of the Nomination Committee and member of the Remuneration Committee. Regularly attends Audit Committee by invitation.
External appointments: Senior Independent Director at Northumbrian Water Group plc (Chairman of the Audit Committee and member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees); Non-Executive Director of Northumbrian Water Ltd, Northumbrian Water Share Scheme Trustees Ltd and Camelot Group Ltd; Chairman of the Advisory Committee of Alexander Proudfoot UK.
Previous experience: Sir Patrick spent ten years in industry and management consultancy before joining the Civil Service, initially involved in privatisation in the Department of Transport during the 1980’s. He then moved to the Department of the Environment, before returning to the Department of Transport as Permanent Secretary from 1991 to 1997.

Term of office: Rupert Pennant-Rea joined the Board in October 2002 and was appointed Senior Independent Director in October 2008. He was last re-elected by shareholders at the 2009 AGM.
Independent: Yes.
Committee membership: Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and member of the Audit and Nomination Committees.
External appointments: Non-Executive Chairman of PGI Group Ltd, Acuity VCT plc, Acuity VCT 2 plc and Henderson Group plc, as well as Chairman of Henderson Group plc Nomination Committee. Non-Executive Director of Times Newspaper Holdings Ltd, The Economist Newspaper Limited, Defaqto Group Ltd, Specialist Waste Recycling Ltd, Gold Fields Ltd and First Quantum Minerals Ltd.
Previous experience: Rupert was Deputy Governor of the Bank of England from 1993 to 1995, prior to which he was Editor of The Economist. He has held a variety of Non-Executive Directorships over the last 15 years.

Term of office: Andrew Allner joined the Board in October 2008. Following his appointment, he was elected by shareholders at the 2009 AGM and will stand for annual re-election at the AGM in October 2010.
Independent: Yes.
Committee membership: Chairman of the Audit Committee. Member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committees.
External appointments: Non-Executive Chairman at Marshalls plc (Chairman of the Nomination Committee); Non-Executive Director at CSR plc (Chairman of the Audit Committee and member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees); Non-Executive Director at Northgate plc (Chairman of the Audit Committee and member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees).
Previous experience: Andrew Allner is a chartered accountant and a former partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He was Group Finance Director of RHM plc between 2004 and 2007, and Chief Executive of Enodis plc prior to this. He was also a Non-Executive Director of Moss Bros Group plc and Chairman of their Audit Committee until 2005.

Term of office: Katherine Innes Ker joined the Board in July 2010.  She will be standing for election for the first time following her appointment at the AGM in October 2010.
Independent: Yes
Committee membership: Member of the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees.
External appointments: Non Executive Director of Taylor Wimpey plc, Tribal Group plc, St Modwen Properties plc and Deputy Chairman of Marine Farms ASA. 
Previous experience: Katherine’s previous Non Executive Directorships included Taylor Woodrow plc, The Television Corporation plc, Fibernet plc, Williams Lea plc, The Ordnance Survey, Shed Media plc and Gyrus Group plc. Katherine has also spent a decade working in the City.

Term of office: Keith Ludeman joined the Board in September 2004 and was appointed as Group Chief Executive in July 2006. He was last re-elected by shareholders at the 2007 AGM and will stand for annual re-election at the AGM in October 2010.
Committee membership: Member of the Nomination Committee. Attends Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee by invitation.
External appointments: Non-Executive Director of the Association of Train Operating Companies Ltd.
Previous experience: Keith Ludeman became a main Board advisor in 1998, after joining Go-Ahead in 1996 when the Group acquired London General. Prior to this he held senior management positions in several bus companies, mainly at Managing Director level, in Greater Manchester, Lancashire and London. He has also worked overseas and as a transport consultant. He was appointed Chief Executive of the Group’s London bus division in 1997 and then moved over to head the rail division in 1999. A postgraduate transport planner, he is a fellow of the Institute of Logistics and Transport, a fellow of the Institute of Railway Operators and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He has been awarded an honorary degree by the University of Salford for his achievements in transport services.

Term of office: Nick Swift was appointed to the Board as Group Finance Director in July 2007. Following his appointment, he was elected by shareholders at the 2007 AGM and will stand for annual re-election at the AGM in October 2010.
Committee membership: Attends Audit Committee by invitation.
External appointments: None
Previous experience: Prior to Go-Ahead, Nick Swift worked as Group Finance Manager at Hanson plc where he was responsible for investor relations and had also been Head of Tax and Treasury and Group Financial Controller. He joined Hanson plc in 2000 following its acquisition of Pioneer International where he held a number of senior corporate and operational finance roles including European Finance Director. He has prior experience of the transport industry having been Group Financial Reporting Manager at Air New Zealand which he joined from Touche Ross. He is a Chartered Accountant.

Term of office: Carolyn Sephton was appointed as Group Company Secretary in July 2006.
Committee membership: Secretary to the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees.
External appointments: None.
Previous experience: Carolyn Sephton spent 12 years working for Northern Electric, predominantly in the field of pensions, before joining Go-Ahead in 2001. Carolyn is a Chartered Secretary. Prior to her appointment as Group Company Secretary she was Assistant Company Secretary for the Group with responsibility for non-rail pensions and a wide range of company secretariat functions including share schemes, legislative compliance, corporate governance and codes of conduct specific to the Group's business activities.