People & Committees
The Company is controlled by the Board of Directors. The Board comprises three Executive and four Non-executive Directors.
Robin Williams, the Non-executive Chairman, is responsible for the running of the Board and David O'Connor, the Chief Executive, has executive responsibility for running the Company's business and implementing Group strategy. The Board meets formally at least ten times each year. It is responsible for overall Group strategy; approval of major capital expenditure projects; approval of the annual and interim results; annual budgets; dividend policy; and Board structure. It monitors the exposure to key business risks and reviews the strategic direction of all trading subsidiaries, their annual budgets, their performance in relation to those budgets and their capital expenditure.
Chief Executive Officer, has worked for the Company for over 20 years in a number of production, operations and marketing roles. He has extensive experience in the Ceramics industry and joined the board in 1999. He was appointed as Chief Executive Officer in 2014.
Non-Executive Chairman, joined the business in October 2022. Robin is an engineering graduate, qualified chartered accountant and has over 30 years' experience working with listed companies including both roles as a Non Executive Director and Non Executive Chairman. Robin's experience includes being CEO and co-founder of Britton Group plc and executive director of Hepworth plc.
Sales and Marketing Director, joined Churchill in 2001 and since then has worked in a number of sales and marketing roles across the Group. He was appointed to the Board in 2015.
Chief Financial Officer, joined the board in 2023. Michael brings considerable expertise to the Board with over 20 years of financial experience including senior positions in quoted and private businesses. Michael has held senior financial roles at Surface Transforms plc, Bentley Motors, Aquila Truck Centres and MAN Truck and Bus UK. Michael is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and holds an MBA from the European School of Management and Technology in Berlin.
Non-Executive Director, joined the Board in September 2013 and is an experienced non Executive Director. He was previously CEO of Nichols plc from 2007 to 2013. He joined the Board in 2013. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and holds an MBA from Manchester Business School.
Non-Executive Director, joined the business in April 2021. Mark has extensive board level, general and manufacturing management experience within a range of industries. He is a Chartered Engineer, was Director of Strategy Implementation for Morgan Technical Ceramics, a division of Morgan Advanced Materials plc, Operations Director for Princess Yachts International plc and latterly held the role of European Operations Director – Packaging, for Essentra plc. Mark is an engineering graduate from the University of Bristol and has an MSc in Polymer technology from Loughborough University.
Non-Executive Director, joined the business in February 2023. Caroline has previously served as a senior executive at Johnson & Johnson for over 25 years in multiple leadership roles including UK Marketing Director. Latterly, Caroline has been a consultant, adviser and director with roles including joining the board of Tristel plc, an AIM listed infection prevention business as a Non-Executive Director and EMEA board of CI&T, a global digital solutions specialist.
Non-Executive Director, joined the business in January 2024. Martin brings a wealth of previous experience to the board having served as CFO and CEO of Genuit Group plc and with extensive experience within the ceramics industry as Financial Director of Johnsons Tiles and as CFO of Norcros plc. Since 2021 Martin has been the Chair of the Audit Committee at Stelrad plc. Martin is a qualified Management Accountant and has over 30 years of manufacturing experience including a brief spell within the pottery industry and has also served as Chairman of the Construction Products Association.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
- Brendan Hynes - Chair
- Mark Moore
- Caroline Stephens
- Martin Payne
The Audit Committee meets at least twice each year. It considers any matter relating to the financial affairs of the Group and to the Group's external audit that it determines to be desirable. In particular the Committee overviews the monitoring of the adequacy of the Group's internal controls, accounting policies and financial reporting and provides a forum through which the Group's external auditors report to the Non-executive Directors.
REMUNERATION COMMITTEE
- Mark Moore - Chair
- Brendan Hynes
- Caroline Stephens
- Martin Payne
The Remuneration Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Board in relation to all aspects of remuneration for Executive Directors. The Remuneration Committee takes into account any factors which it deems necessary, including industry standard executive remuneration, differentials between executive and employee remuneration and differentials between executives. The remuneration of the Non-executive Directors is determined by the Executive Directors.
Nomination Committee
- Robin Williams - Chair
- Brendan Hynes
- Mark Moore
- Caroline Stephens
- Martin Payne
The Nomination Committee, composed wholly of non Executive Directors, is responsible for the regular review of the size, structure and composition (including skills, knowledge, experience and diversity) of the Board and to lead the succession planning process.