The Board’s principal task is to set the Group’s strategy, which is devised to deliver optimum value for shareholders.
Paul Forster
Mr Forster was appointed Non-Executive Chair of the Board Director on 07 March 2024. He was previously made a NonExecutive Director on 01 April 2021 after retiring from his full-time Executive role as Group Finance & Commercial Director. Paul has been with the Potter & Moore Innovations 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 in both the branded and private label sectors, having been Sales & Marketing Director and then Managing Director of Potter & Moore, 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 in 2005 and made a NED on 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 NED in March 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 in listed and private entities. He is 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.
The Board
The Board is composed of the Non-Executive Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the Group Deputy Managing Director, and five additional Non-Executive Directors. 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 Chair 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 for the Board.
The Audit 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.
