The Board’s principal task is to set the Group’s strategy, which is devised to deliver optimum value for shareholders.
Paul Forster
Paul was appointed Non-Executive Chairman of the Board Director in March 2024. He was previously made a Non-Executive Director in April 2021 after retiring from his full-time Executive role as Group Finance & Commercial Director. Paul has been with the Potter & Moore Innovations business (the Group’s principal trading business) for more than 30 years, primarily working as Chief Financial Officer but also including spells overseeing manufacturing. Previously he was Finance Director of Beauty International Fragrance Ltd (BIF), who distributed the Coty fragrance range throughout Europe and the Far East. Prior to joining BIF, Paul qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Touche Ross.
Philippa Clark
Pippa was appointed as Group Managing Director in March 2024 and then Group CEO in January 2025. She has worked within the industry for 20+ years in a wide and extensive range of sales, marketing and commercial roles across private label, branded and contract businesses. In recent years she has headed up the development of the Creightons branded portfolio, growing and extending the reach of the Group’s award-winning brands into multiple channels and international markets whilst also overseeing the development of the strengthening private label division of the business.
Martin Stevens
Martin is a Chartered Chemist and has worked in the cosmetics industry for more than 30 years with extensive experience across the personal care and household sector in R&D, Quality Assurance, Production and Procurement. Martin has been Technical Director at Potter & Moore Innovations Ltd (the Group’s principal trading business) and Creightons PLC for the past 17 years. He was appointed Group Managing Director of Manufacturing in 2022 including responsibility for climate-related risks and opportunities.
William Glencross
William has had many years sales, marketing and general management experience in the cosmetics and toiletries industry. This experience also extends across both branded and private label sectors, having been Sales & Marketing Director and then Managing Director of Potter & Moore (the Group’s principal trading business), and was previously General Manager of the Fine Fragrance division of Shulton G.B., part of the American Cyanamid Group. Mr Glencross was appointed to the Board as an Executive Director in 2005, transitioning to a Non-Executive Director upon his retirement as an Executive Director in 2006.
Nicholas O’Shea
Nicholas has been the Company Secretary for over 25 years and a Director since 2001. A Maths and Chemistry graduate, he has a background in the toiletries and chemicals sectors having held senior financial positions in a number of world-wide businesses including Proctor & Gamble, Scott Paper and Omya Pluss-Stauffer. Mr O’Shea is a CIMA qualified accountant, and is currently Finance Director with several privately owned SMEs as well as an investment management company in the City.
Brian Geary
Brian was appointed as a Non-Executive Director in 2024. A graduate in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from Manchester University, he has held various positions as an MIEE/MIET Chartered Engineer. He specialised in power electronics, motor, and embedded control systems within the oil & gas exploration, marine propulsion, and Formula 1 motorsport sectors. Mr Geary is also an experienced debt and equity investor. He is also the Managing Director and Chairman of Antrim Hills Spring Water, a branded and contract manufacturing business in soft drinks and sports nutrition.
Paul Watts
Paul has over 40 years of financial services experience, in which he primarily spent at RSM as a capital markets and audit assurance partner, specialising on listed companies. Paul was also previously the Director and Treasurer of the QCA. Paul is Chairman of the Company’s Audit and Risk Committee.
Jemima Bird
Jemima has over 20 years’ retail experience working with many of the UK’s leading high street brands, and has held numerous Executive Commercial, Marketing and Operations positions. She is currently Non-Executive Director at Pendragon PLC, Pinewood Technologies Group plc and Headlam Group plc. She has previously held non-executive roles at Revolution Bars Group plc as well as Carpetright plc. Jemima is the Founder and CEO of Hello Finch, a marketing agency business, founded in 2013. Jemima is Chair of the Company’s Remuneration Committee.
The Board
The Board comprises the Non-Executive Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the Group Deputy Managing Director, and five Non-Executive Directors, two of whom are considered independent. The Board is led by the Chairman who is responsible for setting the Board’s agenda and monitoring its effectiveness. There is a clear division of responsibilities between the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer.
The Board is responsible for the overall management of the Group including the formulation and approval of the Group’s long-term objectives and strategy, the approval of budgets, the oversight of Group operations, the maintenance of sound internal control and risk management systems and the implementation of the Group’s strategy, policies and plans. Whilst the Board may delegate specific responsibilities, there is a formal schedule of matters specifically reserved for decision by the Board. The Board meets formally at least six times throughout the year.
The Board has established an Audit and Risk Committee and Remuneration Committee with formally delegated duties and responsibilities, as described below. The Company does not have a Nomination Committee. Succession planning, contingency planning for the absence of key staff and other responsibilities that would ordinarily be delegated to the Nomination Committee, are matters reserved for the Board.
The Audit and Risk Committee comprises and is chaired by Paul Watts (Independent Non-Executive Director), with other members including Jemima Bird (Independent Non-Executive Director) and Bill Glencross (Non-Executive Director). It expects to meet at least three times a year and otherwise as required.
The Audit and Risk Committee has responsibility for ensuring that the financial performance of the Company is properly reported on and reviewed, and its role includes monitoring the integrity of the financial statements of the Company (including annual and interim accounts and results announcements), reviewing internal control and risk management systems, reviewing any changes to accounting policies, reviewing and monitoring the extent of the non-audit services undertaken by external auditors and advising on the appointment of external auditors.
The Audit and Risk Committee has unrestricted access to the Company’s external auditor. The Audit and Risk Committee also has responsibility for ensuring that the Company has in place the procedures, resources and controls to enable compliance with the AIM Rules for Companies and the UK Market Abuse Regulation.
The Remuneration Committee comprises and is chaired by Jemima Bird (Independent Non-Executive Director), with other members including Paul Watts (Independent Non-Executive Director) and Brian Geary (Non-Executive Director). It expects to meet not less than twice a year and at such other times as required.
The Remuneration Committee is responsible for determining, within the agreed terms of reference, the Company’s policy on the remuneration packages of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman, Executive Directors and other senior management. The Remuneration Committee also has responsibility for determining the total individual remuneration package of the Chairman and each Executive Director (including bonuses, incentive payments and share options or other share awards), in each case within the terms of the Company’s remuneration policy and in consultation with the Chairman of the Board and/or the Chief Executive Officer. No Director or manager may be involved in any discussions as to their own remuneration. The remuneration of Non-Executive Directors is a matter for the executive members of the Board.