Board of Directors

Braemar PLC has a single-tier Board of Directors who meet regularly to provide guidance and feedback to the Executive Committee.

Executive Directors

GROUP CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER

James Gundy

James has worked in shipbroking for over 35 years, specialising in Tankers and Sale & Purchase projects. He became the Chief Executive Officer of Braemar’s Shipbroking Division after our merger with ACM Shipping Group PLC, where he had also served as CEO.

GROUP CHIEF
OPERATING OFFICER

Tris Simmonds

Tris has over 30 years of experience in the commodities industry. He worked at GFI Group for 14 years before founding Atlantic Brokers in 2013, which was sold to Braemar in 2018 to create its derivative brokerage business. He joined the Board of Braemar PLC on August 1st 2021.

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Grant Foley

Grant has over 25 years of experience in leading public and private financial services and technology businesses, and joins the Company from ClearScore, the UK’s leading credit marketplace. As Chief Financial Officer at ClearScore, he has driven significant improvements across the finance function, implementing new systems, processes and reporting as the business has scaled. Grant also brings additional transaction experience to the board, and his other roles have included CMC Markets Plc where, as Group Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, he was instrumental in the company’s successful IPO.

Non-Executive Directors

NON-EXECUTIVE
CHAIRMAN

Nigel Payne

Committee memberships:

Chair of the Nomination Committee.

Background and relevant experience:

Nigel has over 30 years’ experience on public and private boards, both as an executive and non-executive director. Nigel has served as the CEO of Sportingbet PLC, one of the world’s largest internet gaming companies at the time. He was previously appointed Non-Executive Chairman of AIM company’s EG Solutions PLC, Stride Gaming PLC, Hangar8 PLC, ECSC PLC and a Non-Executive Director of AIM-quoted Gama Aviation PLC.

Current external appointments:

Nigel is currently the Non-Executive Chairman of AIM-quoted Gateley PLC and a Non-Executive Director of AIM-quoted GetBusy PLC.

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Elizabeth Gooch

Committee memberships:

Chair of the Remuneration Committee and member of the Nomination, and Audit & Risk Committees.

Background and relevant experience:

Elizabeth has over 16 years’ experience in the governance, compliance and financial reporting sectors of publicly listed companies. She founded and ran AIM-quoted EG Solutions PLC from 2005 until its acquisition by Verint Systems Inc. in 2017. She joined the Board of Braemar PLC on August 1st 2021.

Current external appointments:

Non-Executive Director of ECSC Group PLC, Non-Executive Director of Nivo Solutions LTD and Director of Expandly LTD.

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Joanne Lake

Committee memberships:

Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee, and Member of the Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committees.

Background and relevant experience:

Joanne has over 30 years’ experience in financial and professional services. She’s worked in investment banking, with firms including Panmure Gordon, Evolution Securities and Williams de Broe, and in audit and business advisory services with Price Waterhouse. Joanne is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment and of the ICAEW as well as being a member of the ICAEW’s Corporate Finance faculty.

Current external appointments:

Non-Executive Chairman of Made Tech PLC; Non-Executive Director of Henry Boot PLC; Non-Executive Director of Pollen Street Plc; Non-Executive Director of Gateley (Holdings) PLC; and Non-Executive Director of Morson Group Ltd.

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Cat Valentine

Committee memberships:

Member of the Audit & Risk Committee and the Remuneration Committee.

Background and relevant experience:

Cat was appointed to the board in May 2023. She is a communications professional with more than 25 years’ experience advising quoted and privately-owned companies on investor and corporate communications. She joined the strategic communications advisory business, Belvedere Communications, in 2017, where she is Director and Co-owner.

Current external appointments:

No current external appointments.

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