Larry Pentz

Chairman, BS ChE MBA

Nationality: US

Appointed to the Board: July 2008 (appointed Chairman on October 2014)

Independent: On appointment

Skills and experience: Larry has a strong record in M&A, strategy implementation and leading international growth businesses in the chemicals industry, as well as extensive operational and general management experience.

Previous roles: Larry was an executive director of Johnson Matthey Plc from 2003 to 2016 and has over 30 years’ service within multi-national businesses in a variety of operational and general management positions. He was non-executive chairman of Scapa Group plc from 2017 to 2020.

Other significant appointments: None.

Specific contribution to the Company’s long-term success: Larry’s extensive sector and board level experience enables valuable leadership of the Board, as well as delivering continuity and stability as the Company navigates the challenges of COVID-19 and reflecting significant Board changes since 2017.

Jakob Sigurdsson

Chief Executive Officer , BSc MBA

Nationality: Icelandic

Appointed to the Board: October 2017

Independent: No

Skills and experience: Jakob holds a BSc in chemistry from the University of Iceland and an MBA from Northwestern University in the US. His executive responsibilities have spanned marketing, supply chain, business development, strategy and M&A, with particular emphasis on growth in new or developing markets.

Previous roles: Jakob has more than 20 years’ experience in large multinational companies, both listed and private, including nine years with Rohm & Haas (now part of Dow Chemical) in the US. He was chief executive at Alfesca, Promens and ViS.

Other significant appointments: Non-executive director of Coats Group plc.

Specific contribution to the Company’s long-term success: Jakob brings his diverse and international background in chemicals coupled with wider business, executive and non-executive experience to inspire and lead the Group.

Richard Armitage

Group Finance Director - Chief Financial Officer, FCMA

Nationality: British

Appointed to the Board: May 2018

Independent: No

Skills and experience: Richard has broad experience including financial management, investor relations, capital markets, M&A and commercial management, gained through roles in a number of listed and privately owned chemicals and consumer goods companies.

Previous roles: Richard was CFO at Samworth Brothers from 2014 to 2018 and CFO of McBride plc from 2009 to 2014. Prior to that, Richard held senior finance roles in Courtaulds plc, ICI plc and Premier Foods plc.

Other significant appointments: Richard is a non-executive director and chair of the audit committee at NWF Group plc.

Specific contribution to the Company’s long-term success: Richard contributes his financial leadership capability, combined with commercial experience, as the Company continues its profitable growth, and business development experience as the Company expands its footprint.

Martin Court

Executive Director - Chief Commercial Officer, BSc (Eng) PhD

Nationality: British

Appointed to the Board: April 2015

Independent: No

Skills and experience: Martin is an INSEAD alumnus and holds a doctorate in the field of surface chemistry and fracture mechanics and a BSc (Eng) in mineral technology from the Imperial College of Science and Technology. He has broad international experience in strategy, innovation-driven growth and organisational change in high performance materials and chemical industries, having held both senior commercial and technical leadership roles.

Previous roles: Martin joined Victrex in 2013 as Managing Director of Invibio from Cytec Industries where he served as VP in process separation and VP R&D, previously having held senior leadership roles in UCB S.A and ICI.

Other significant appointments: None.

Specific contribution to the Company’s long-term success: Martin’s significant diverse international experience and focus on value creation and achieving business growth through innovation and geographic expansion enable him to drive Victrex’s commercial and innovation strategies ensuring an appropriate balance between disruptive and non-disruptive change.

Jane Toogood

Non-executive Director , MA Hons

Nationality: British

Appointed to the Board: September 2015

Independent: Yes

Skills and experience: Jane has a wealth of experience across a number of business management, senior commercial and business development roles within the global chemicals industry. Jane holds an MA in natural sciences (chemistry) from the University of Oxford.

Previous roles: Jane held senior roles at Borealis, ICI and Uniqema. She was non-executive director of NHS Harrogate and District Foundation Trust.

Other significant appointments: Jane is the sector chief executive, efficient natural resources at Johnson Matthey Plc.

Specific contribution to the Company’s long-term success: Jane brings strategic and industry expertise and insights drawing on her extensive international experience across multiple sectors. Jane is a current senior executive leading businesses to successfully transform to meet the future demands of global mega trends.

Janet Ashdown

Non-executive Director, BSc

Nationality: British

Appointed to the Board: February 2018

Independent: Yes

Skills and experience: Janet has over 30 years’ experience in the international energy sector working across the value chain from customer facing through to manufacturing in increasingly senior roles.

Previous roles: Janet had a distinguished career working for BP plc for 30 years where her last role was head of the UK Fuels Business Unit. She was CEO of Harvest Energy, an international private equity backed business, from 2010 to 2012. She was non-executive director at SIG plc and Coventry Building Society.

Other significant appointments: Janet is currently senior independent director, chair of the remuneration committee and designated non-executive director for workforce engagement at Marshalls plc. She is a non-executive director and chair of the sustainability committee of RHI Magnesita NV and she is also senior independent director and chair of the Environment Safety and Security Committee of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

Specific contribution to the Company’s long-term success: Janet has extensive international executive and non-executive experience and has served on remuneration committees across different sectors for over ten years and been a chair for five years.

Brendan Connolly

Non-executive Director, BSc

Nationality: British

Tenure: Appointed to the Board February 2018.

Career: Until June 2013, Brendan was a senior executive at Intertek Group plc and had previously been chief executive officer of Moody International (which was acquired by Intertek in 2011). Prior to Moody, he was managing director of Atos Origin UK, and spent more than 25 years of his career with Schlumberger in senior international roles over three continents.

Relevant skills and experience: Brendan has over 35 years’ experience in the international oil and gas industry serving in a number of senior executive roles.

External appointments: Brendan is a non-executive director and senior independent director of Synthomer plc, in addition to being chairman of its remuneration committee and member of its audit and nomination committees. Brendan is also on two private equity boards, one of which he chairs.

David Thomas

Non-executive Director, MA FCA

Nationality: British

Appointed to the Board: May 2018

Independent: Yes

Skills and experience: David has deep experience in a broad range of finance activities within listed companies as both a senior executive and as an audit professional.

Previous roles: David was CFO at Invensys plc from 2011 until his retirement in 2014, having held senior roles across the business since 2002. Prior to joining Invensys, he was a senior partner in Ernst & Young specialising in long-term industrial contracting business and was a member of the Auditing Standards Board.

Other significant appointments: David is non-executive director at Dialight plc where he is chair of the audit committee and the nominated non-executive director with responsibility for workforce liaison.

Specific contribution to the Company’s long-term success: David contributes his expertise in finance and his understanding of the investment community and regulators as both a Board member and Chair of the Audit Committee, as well as his industry knowledge to enhance the risk lens for Board decision making.

Ros Rivaz

Non-executive Director, BSc Hons, Honorary DSc

Nationality: British

Appointed to the Board: May 2020

Independent: Yes

Skills and experience: Ros holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in chemistry and an honorary doctorate from Southampton University, and has deep international experience in the areas of supply chain management, logistics, manufacturing, IT, procurement and systems in the engineering, manufacturing and chemicals industries.

Previous roles: Ros’ executive career spans nearly 30 years. She held senior executive roles at Exxon Chemical Corporation, Tate & Lyle, ICI, Diageo and Premier Foods. Ros served as global chief operating officer for Smith & Nephew from 2011 to 2014. She was non-executive director at ConvaTec plc, RPC Group plc, Boparan Holdings Limited, Rexam plc and CEVA Logistics AG.

Other significant appointments: Ros is currently senior independent director, employee engagement director and chair of the remuneration committee of Computacenter plc. She is non-executive director of Aperam SA. She is chair of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and non‑executive director at the Ministry of Defence Equipment and Support board.

Specific contribution to the Company’s long-term success: Ros’ strong track record as both a non-executive and executive across a range of listed companies, particularly in the medical industry, will be instrumental in driving growth and supporting the Chairman in her role as Senior Independent Director.