Steve Ashmore, Managing Director, Wolseley UK
Steve, aged 45, has considerable construction materials distribution sector experience. He joined Wolseley UK in 2005 as UK brand development director. In 2007 he was appointed managing director of the UK’s Plumb, Parts, BCG and Unifix businesses and most recently has been responsible for Wolseley UK’s Heavyside division.
Steve has strong international operational experience and before joining Wolseley spent over 11 years with Exel plc, the supply chain and third party logistics provider, in a variety of leadership positions. Between 2003 and 2005 he was Managing Director, Europe of Exel’s Industrial Division, covering logistics and supply chain management for the capital goods, utilities and processing industries. Prior to that, he was Managing Director, Continental Europe comprising Exel businesses in Spain, France, Germany and Portugal. Before joining Exel, Steve was a consultant for management consulting firm A. T. Kearney.
Ian K Meakins - Group Chief Executive
Appointed to the Board as Chief Executive on 13 July 2009, Mr Meakins was, until April 2009, Chief Executive of Travelex Holdings Limited, the international foreign exchange and payments business. Mr Meakins was previously Chief Executive Officer of Alliance UniChem plc until its merger with Boots in July 2006 and prior to that, was President, European Major Markets and Global Supply for Diageo plc, between 2000 and 2004, spending over 12 years with the company in a variety of international management positions. Mr Meakins is a director of the Impetus Trust. Age 54.
John Martin - Chief Financial Officer
Appointed to the Board on 1 April 2010, Mr Martin, a chartered accountant, joined the Wolseley plc Group in February 2010. He was previously a partner at the private equity group, Alchemy Partners and prior to that was Chief Financial Officer with Travelex Group and Hays Plc, the business services group. Mr Martin started his career at Arthur Andersen before joining The Stationery Office Group, on its privatisation, where he was Group Controller. Age 44.
Frank W Roach - Chief Executive, North America
Appointed to the Board on 16 December 2005. Mr Roach is responsible for all the North American businesses. He first joined Ferguson Enterprises Inc. in 1976 and has held a number of business roles. In 2005, Mr Roach was appointed as Senior Vice President of the Wolseley North America management team, playing a key part in further developing and expanding the Group’s North American businesses.
Philippe Gardies - Managing Director Wolseley France
In May 2006 Philippe Gardies was appointed to lead Wolseley’s operations across the whole of France after having managed one of the French companies, PBM (current Heavyside and Import and Timber Solutions divisions).
From 1978 to 1988, Philippe worked for the Leroy Somer Group where he held a number of roles from Production Planning Manager to Business Unit Manager in France, Africa and the US.
In 1988 he joined V33 (paints and varnishes), a French market leader as General Manager where he significantly developed the company throughout a nine year period. In 1997, he joined PBM as General Manager for the Distribution Network and doubled the size of the business through organic and acquisitive growth. In 2003 Wolseley acquired PBM and Philippe was appointed Managing Director of this company.
Rod Angwin - Group Chief Information Officer
With overall responsibility for delivering IT systems and processes across the whole Group, Rod also has responsibility for delivering the Business Change Programme. This includes building the core infrastructure of process and technology needed to support the Group’s evolving business. Rod has previously worked for Mars, Safeway and Meyer International (Saint Gobain) & B&Q in a variety of roles. During his career he has led international change and significant IT implementation programmes.
Bob Morrison - Group HR Director
Bob Morrison was appointed Group Human Resources Director in April 2007. In this role Bob works with the senior HR management across the Group, providing leadership and direction, ensuring that our people practices and Leadership Development are fully aligned and supportive of our business strategy. Prior to joining Wolseley, Bob spent five years with Blockbuster Inc., where he was Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Operations for Blockbuster’s 3000 stores outside the United States and Canada. Additionally, from 1986 to 1994, he was the Vice President of Human Resources for Burger King Corporation’s International business. From 1994 to 2001, Bob owned and operated a retained executive search firm primarily in the United States.
Richard Shoylekov - Group Company Secretary and General Counsel
Joined Wolseley plc in December 2007.He is secretary to the Board and all of the Committees of the Board and is a member of the Disclosure and Executive Committees. Mr Shoylekov, a solicitor, has responsibility for the Group’s legal affairs, insurance and corporate responsibility.
Steen Weirsøe - President & Chief Executive Officer, Nordic (DT Group) & CEE region
Steen Weirsøe was appointed President & Chief Executive Officer for DT Group A/S in 2000, he had been a Non Executive member of the Board since 1995. Steen is responsible for leading the Nordic Group which supplies materials and related services for building and home improvement in the Nordic Region. Steen also oversees Wolseley’s businesses in Central and Eastern Europe.
Steen held the position of Managing Director of Junckers Industrier A/S from 1983-94. Junckers Industrier A/S is Europe's largest manufacturer of solid hardwood floors and Denmark's largest timber industry. From 1994-1999 Steen was a member of the Executive Board of Danisco A/S which is one of the world's leading producers of ingredients for food and other consumer products.