Board members

John Barton   + $

Aged 65

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 and Cable and Wireless plc. Formerly Chief Executive of JIB Group plc and Chairman of Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group Plc and Wellington Underwriting plc.

Lord Wolfson of Aspley Guise   Chief Executive

Aged 42 

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 46

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 56

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 59

Joined the Group in 1985 and was appointed to the Board in 1990. Previous experience includes twelve years in retail and commercial property.  He is also a non-executive director of Metric Property Investments plc.

Jonathan Dawson   Senior Independent Non-executive # + $

Aged 58

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 over twenty years in investment banking with Lazard.

Steve Barber   # + $

Aged 58

Became a member of the Board in 2007.  Previous experience includes almost thirty years in the accountancy profession, principally with Price Waterhouse where he was a senior partner.  Formerly Finance Director of Mirror Group and Chief Operating Officer of Whitehead Mann).

Christine Cross   # + $

Aged 58

Became a member of the Board in 2005. She is also a non-executive director of Empire Co. Ltd (Canada), Sonae Group Ltd (Portugal), Chief Retail Advisor to PricewaterhouseCoopers and a retail advisor to Apax Partners and Warburg Pincus. Previous experience includes fourteen years as a director at Tesco plc and fifteen years lecturing and course director roles at Edinburgh and Bath Universities.

Francis Salway   # + $

Aged 52