Board of Directors

Skills and experience
David Hearn is an experienced chair and brings a wealth of international board and senior executive experience in public companies, having previously been CEO of leading consumer goods businesses Goodman Fielder in Australasia, United Biscuits in Europe and Asia, Cordiant plc in the US and the UK and also international private equity and advisory firm Committed Capital. Until November 2023, David was chair of The a2 Milk Company, a company listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange and dual listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.

External appointments
David is a director of Lovat Partners, Committed Capital and the architectural firm Robin Partington & Partners. With effect from 1 January 2024, David will become the chair of Tate & Lyle PLC, a Company listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Skills and experience
Frederic Vecchioli founded our French business in 1998 and has overseen its growth to 29 stores in Paris operating under the “Une Pièce en Plus” brand. He joined the Group as President and Head of French Operations following the Mentmore acquisition in 2004. Frederic was appointed to the Board in March 2011 and became Chief Executive Officer of the Group in September 2013.

External appointments and other listed directorships
None

Skills and experience
Andy Jones joined the Group in May 2013 as Chief Financial Officer. Andy’s previous role was director of group finance at Worldpay Limited, prior to which he held the positions of director of finance and investor relations at TUI Travel PLC and chief financial officer at Virgin Entertainment Group in the US. Andy began his career at Ernst & Young, where he qualified as a chartered accountant in 1992. Andy is a graduate of the University of Birmingham.

External appointments and other listed directorships
None

Skills and experience
Ian Krieger joined the Board in October 2013 as a Non-Executive Director and was appointed Chair of the Audit Committee in April 2014 and Senior Independent Director in March 2015. Ian is a Chartered Accountant and was a senior partner and vice-chair at Deloitte until his retirement in 2012. Ian brings a wealth of recent financial experience to the Board as well as his experience as audit committee chair for two other UK-listed companies in the property sector.

External appointments
Ian is a non-executive director, senior independent director and audit committee chair of Capital & Regional plc and of Primary Health Properties plc.

Other listed directorships
Capital & Regional plc and Primary Health Properties plc.

Skills and experience
During his extensive and varied career, Gert van de Weerdhof has held a number of senior executive positions including as CEO of GrandVision Europe BV before progressing to become chief retail officer for Esprit Holdings Ltd and latterly as CEO of RFS Holland Holdings BV and its subsidiary Wehkamp BV. Gert was also a non-executive director, vice-chair and chair of the remuneration and nomination committees for Wereldhave NV and chair of CTAC NV and until recently a non-executive director and vice-chair of Accell Group NV. Gert brings a wealth of international expertise to the Board having held roles across multi-site retail, e-commerce, consumer goods and real estate.

External appointments
Gert is currently non-executive director of Sligro Food Group NV and CEO of MercyShips.

Other listed directorships
Sligro Food Group NV is listed on Euronext Amsterdam.

Skills and experience
Laure Duhot joined the Board in November 2021 as Non-Executive Director and was appointed a member of the Audit and Remuneration Committees.  Following Laure’s appointment as Chair of the Remuneration Committee in June 2022, Laure stepped down from the Safestore Audit Committee. Laure brings over 30 years of senior executive level experience in the investment banking and property sectors, specialising in alternative real estate assets, and has been a non-executive director at a number of funds and property companies.

Laure started her career in the investment banking sector and has developed a focus on the property sector. She has held senior roles at Lehman Brothers, Macquarie Capital Partners, Sunrise Senior Living Inc., Pradera Limited and Grainger plc and latterly as Head of Investment and Capital Markets – Europe at Lendlease.

External appointments
Laure is currently a non-executive director of Primary Health Properties plc, NB Global Monthly Income Fund Limited, a premium-listed Guernsey registered fund, and ORPEA SA, a company listed on Euronext Paris. Laure is a also a director of Lifestory Group Limited and acts as the independent member on CBRE-IM's UK investment Committee. Formerly, Laure was a non-executive director of Inland Homes plc and MedicX Fund, which merged with Primary Health Properties plc in March 2019. 

Other listed directorships
Primary Health Properties plc, NB Global Monthly Income Fund Limited, a premium-listed Guernsey registered fund and ORPEA SA, a company listed on Euronext Paris.

Skills and experience
Delphine Mousseau brings over 25 years of senior executive level and consultancy experience in e-commerce and customer engagement across Europe, specialising in retail.

Delphine began her career as a Project Manager at the Boston Consulting Group before moving on to join Plantes-et-Jardins.com where she became Head of Operations. Between 2007 and 2011, she was Director of E-Commerce for Europe at Tommy Hilfiger and then became an independent consultant, primarily for the former Primondo Specialty Group which was Carlyle owned. Latterly Delphine was a VP markets at Zalando and a non-executive director of Fnac-Darty SA.

External appointments
Based in Germany, Delphine is currently a non-executive director at Aramis Group SAS, listed on Euronext Paris, and a member of the Holland & Barrett UK Board and Chair of the Refurbed Board in Austria.

Other listed directorships
Aramis Group SAS, a company listed on Euronext Paris.

Skills and experience
Jane has extensive experience and understanding of operating multisite, consumer-led businesses. Most recently, Jane was Managing Director of Haven, the UK holiday parks chain and largest business division of Bourne Leisure. Prior to becoming Managing Director of Haven, she was the Group Chief Financial Officer for 12 years and previously spent six years as Operations Director. In her career she has also held senior financial roles at the Rank Group.

Jane is a director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee of Oakman Inns plc, a director of Resident Hotels Limited, a consultant for Blackstone, and a member of Pilotlight.

Jane is an ACA qualified accountant and a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

External appointments
Oakman Inns plc
Resident Hotels Limited

Other listed directorships
None

Skills and experience
Avis joined the Board on 1 September 2023 as a Non-Executive Director and a member of the Board’s Audit and Remuneration Committees. 

Avis has over 20 years of senior executive level and management consulting experience in the retail and entertainment and media sectors, specialising in customer experience strategy and business transformation.

Avis began her career in the retail sector covering domestic and international B2B & B2C sales and buying and category management before specialising in large-scale change programmes. Before joining Sky PLC in 2009 as Business Transformation Director, Avis had spent eight years at Accenture, having been promoted to Partner in 2004. Avis was a non-executive director of Moss Bros Group plc, until its sale in 2020.  More recently Avis has established her own business consulting company.

External appointments
Avis is a non-executive director and a member of the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees for Marshalls plc
and Grafton Group plc. Avis is also the Senior Independent Trustee/Director for Barnardo’s children’s charity.

Other listed directorships
Marshalls PLC
Grafton Group PLC