Board members

John Barton   + $

Aged 63

Became a member of the Board in 2002 and was appointed Deputy Chairman in 2004 and Chairman in 2006. He is also Chairman of Brit Insurance Holdings Plc and a non-executive director of WH Smith Plc. Formerly Chief Executive of JIB Group plc and Chairman of Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group Plc and Wellington Underwriting plc.

Simon Wolfson   Chief Executive

Aged 40 

Joined the Group in 1991. Appointed Retail Sales Director in 1993, became responsible for Next Directory in 1995 and was appointed to the Board in 1997 with additional responsibilities for systems. Appointed Managing Director of the Next Brand in 1999 and Chief Executive in 2001.

Christos Angelides   Group Product Director

Aged 44

Joined the Group in 1986 and was appointed General Manager of Next’s sourcing office in Hong Kong in 1989, Menswear Product Director in 1994 and Womenswear Product Director in 1998. Appointed to the Board in 2000.

David Keens   Group Finance Director

Aged 54

Joined the Group in 1986 and was appointed to the Board in 1991. Previous experience includes seven years in the accountancy profession and nine years in the UK and overseas operations of multi-national manufacturers of consumer goods.

Andrew Varley   Group Property Director

Aged 57

Joined the Group in 1985 and was appointed to the Board in 1990. Previous experience includes 12 years in retail and commercial property.

Jonathan Dawson   Senior Independent Non-executive # + $

Aged 56

Became a member of the Board in 2004. He is also a non-executive director of National Australia Group Europe Ltd and a partner in Penfida Partners LLP. Previous experience includes eight years in the Ministry of Defence and 20 years in investment banking with Lazard.

Steve Barber   # + $

Aged 56

Became a member of the Board in June 2007.  He is also Chief Financial Officer of Whitehead Mann and formerly finance director of Mirror Group.  Previous experience includes almost thirty years in the accountancy profession, principally with Price Waterhouse where he was a senior partner.

Nick Brookes   # + $

Aged 57

Became a member of the Board in 2003. He has held a number of directorships within the British American Tobacco Plc group, was Company Secretary and most recently Regional Director, America Pacific. Previous experience includes a career in the legal profession and operational roles in Africa and the USA.

Christine Cross   # + $

Aged 56

Became a member of the Board in 2005. She is also a non-executive director of Premier Foods plc and Empire Co. Ltd (Canada), a retail advisor to Apax Partners and a member of the Advisory Panel of PricewaterhouseCoopers. Previous experience includes 14 years at Tesco plc and 15 years lecturing and consulting at Edinburgh and Bath Universities.