About us

Patrick Cescau – Non-Executive Chairman

Appointed to the Board: 1 January 2013

Committee Membership: Nomination Committee

Skills and Experience: From 2005 to 2008, Patrick was Group Chief Executive of Unilever Group, having previously been Chairman of Unilever PLC, Vice-Chairman of Unilever NV and Foods Director, following a progressive career with the Company, which began in France in 1973. Prior to being appointed to the Board of Unilever NV in 1999, as Finance Director, he was Chairman of a number of the Company's major operating companies and divisions, including in the USA, Indonesia and Portugal.

Board Contribution: Patrick has held Board positions for more than 12 years in leading global businesses and brings extensive international experience in brands, consumer products, as well as finance. As Chairman, Patrick is responsible for leading the Board and ensuring it operates in an effective manner and promoting constructive relations with shareholders.

Other Appointments: Currently a Non-Executive Director of International Consolidated Airlines Group, S.A. and the Senior Independent Director and Non-Executive Director of Tesco PLC. Patrick is also a trustee of the Leverhulme Trust and Chairman of the St Jude India Children's Charity. He was formerly a Senior Independent Director and Non-Executive Director of Pearson PLC and a Director at INSEAD.

Richard Solomons – Chief Executive

Appointed to the Board: 10 February 2003; became Chief Executive in July 2011

Committee Membership: Corporate Responsibility Committee

Skills and Experience: A chartered accountant and a member of the Executive Committee of the World Travel & Tourism Council. From 2003 to 2011 Richard was Chief Financial Officer and Head of Commercial Development. Since joining the Group in 1992 he has held a variety of senior financial and operational roles, including Chief Operating Officer of The Americas Hotels division and Finance Director of the Hotels business prior to the separation of Six Continents PLC in April 2003.

Board Contribution: Richard has extensive experience in finance and is responsible for the executive management of the Group and ensuring the implementation of Board strategy and policy.

Tom Singer – Chief Financial Officer

Appointed to the Board: 26 September 2011

Skills and Experience: Prior to joining the Group, Tom was Group Finance Director and a main board member of Bupa, a global healthcare provider. Previously Group Finance Director and Chief Operating Officer at William Hill PLC and Finance Director at Moss Bros Group PLC.

Board Contribution: Tom has extensive financial experience obtained from UK and international finance roles. He is responsible, together with the Board, for overseeing the financial operations of the Group and setting its financial strategy.

Kirk Kinsell – President, The Americas

Appointed to the Board: 1 August 2010; became President, The Americas in June 2011

Skills and Experience: Kirk has 30 years' experience in the hospitality industry, including senior franchise positions with Holiday Inn Corporation and ITT Sheraton. He joined the Group in 2002 as Senior Vice President, Chief Development Officer for The Americas region. He became an Executive Committee member in September 2007 and was previously President, Europe, Middle East and Africa until June 2011.

Board Contribution: Kirk has vast experience in the hospitality industry and is responsible for the business development and performance of all the hotel brands and properties in The Americas region.

Tracy Robbins – Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Group Operations Support

Appointed to the Board: 9 August 2011

Skills and Experience: Tracy has over 27 years' experience in human resources roles in service industries. She joined the Group in December 2005 from Compass Group PLC, a world-leading food service company, where she was Group Human Resources Leadership & Development Director. Previously Group HR Director for Forte Hotels Group. She also spent seven years at Tesco PLC as a Retail Human Resources Manager where she implemented a culture change and restructuring strategy across 150 stores.

Board Contribution: Tracy has many years of experience in human resources and is responsible for global talent management, leadership development, employee reward strategy and implementation, organisational capability and operations support.

David Kappler – Non-Executive Director

Appointed to the Board: 21 June 2004

Skills and Experience: David is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Formerly Chief Financial Officer of Cadbury Schweppes plc and Non-Executive Chairman of Premier Foods plc. He also served as a Non-Executive Director of Camelot Group plc and HMV Group plc.

Board Contribution: David brings over 35 years' knowledge and experience in financial reporting, risk management and internal financial controls. As Chairman of the Audit Committee he is responsible for leading the Committee to ensure effective internal controls and risk management systems are in place.

Other Appointments: David is a Non-Executive Director of Shire plc, a member of the Europe Advisory Council of Trilantic Capital Partners and Chairman of ADS2 Brands Limited.

Jennifer Laing – Non-Executive Director

Appointed to the Board: 25 August 2005

Committee Membership: Audit, Corporate Responsibility and Nomination Committee

Skills and Experience: Jennifer was Associate Dean, External Relations at London Business School, until 2007. A fellow of the Marketing Society and of the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising, she has over 30 years' experience in advertising including 16 years with Saatchi & Saatchi.

Board Contribution: Jennifer has over 30 years' experience in marketing and advertising and is Chairman of the Corporate Responsibility Committee, responsible for the Corporate Responsibility objectives and strategy. Other Appointments: Currently a Non-Executive Director of Hudson Global, Inc., a US human resources company and Premier Foods plc, a branded food producer.

Jonathan Linen – Non-Executive Director

Appointed to the Board: 1 December 2005

Committee Membership: Nomination and Remuneration Committee

Skills and Experience: Jonathan was formerly Vice Chairman of the American Express Company, having held a range of senior positions throughout his career of over 35 years with American Express.

Board Contribution: Jonathan has over 25 years' experience working in the financial and branded sectors and is a member of the Remuneration Committee.

Other Appointments: Currently a Non-Executive Director of Yum! Brands, Inc. and Modern Bank, N.A., a US private banking company. Jonathan also serves on a number of US councils and advisory boards.

Luke Mayhew – Non-Executive Director

Appointed to the Board: 1 July 2011

Committee Membership: Corporate Responsibility, Nomination and Remuneration Committee

Skills and Experience: Luke is currently a Non-Executive Director of Brambles Limited, a global provider of supply chain and information management solutions. Previously he served for 12 years on the Board of John Lewis Partnership, including as Managing Director of the Department Store Division. Luke also spent five years at British Airways PLC and seven years at Thomas Cook Group PLC in senior positions. He was also a Non-Executive Director of WH Smith PLC and Chairman of Pets at Home Group Limited.

Board Contribution: Luke has over 30 years' experience in senior roles in the branded sector and is Remuneration Committee chairman at Brambles Limited and has been since 2006. As Chairman of the IHG Remuneration Committee he is responsible for setting the remuneration policy.

Other Appointments: Currently a Non-Executive Director of Brambles Limited.

Jill McDonald – Non-Executive Director

Appointed to the Board: 1 June 2013

Committee Membership: Audit and Nomination Committee

Skills and Experience: Jill has been Chief Executive Officer and President for the Northern Europe Division for McDonald's since September 2010 and was Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer UK & Northern Division from 2006 to 2010. Previously, Jill spent 16 years with British Airways and held a number of senior marketing positions in the UK and overseas.

Board Contribution: Jill has over 26 years' experience working with high-profile international consumer facing brands at both marketing and operational level.

Dale Morrison – Non-Executive Director

Appointed to the Board: 1 June 2011

Committee Membership: Audit, Corporate Responsibility and Nomination Committee

Skills and Experience: A founding partner of TriPointe Capital Partners, a private equity firm. Dale was previously President and Chief Executive Officer of McCain Foods Limited and President and Chief Executive Officer of Campbell Soup Company.

Board Contribution: Dale has over 10 years' experience in sales and marketing positions, and over 25 years' experience in general management, having held senior positions in the branded foods sector.

Other Appointments: Currently a Non-Executive Director of International Flavors & Fragrances Inc., a producer of flavours and fragrances, and Chairman of Findus Group Limited, a frozen food company.

Ying Yeh – Non-Executive Director

Appointed to the Board: 1 December 2007

Committee Membership: Corporate Responsibility, Nomination and Remuneration Committee

Skills and Experience: Ying was formerly Vice President and Chairman, Greater China Region, Nalco Company and Chairman and President, North Asia Region, President, Business Development, Asia Pacific Region and Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company. She was, for 15 years, a diplomat with the US Foreign Service in Hong Kong and Beijing until 1997.

Board Contribution: Ying has over 20 years' experience gained from working in senior positions in global organisations across a broad range of sectors.

Other Appointments: Currently a Non-Executive Director of AB Volvo, a transportation related products and services company, ABB Ltd, a global leader in power and automation technologies, and Samsonite International S.A., a travel luggage company.