Two new appointments to government’s Shareholder Executive

Robert Swannell and Robin Lawther have been appointed as Non-Executive Directors to the government’s Shareholder Executive to bring further knowledge and experience to help deliver its aim to be an effective shareholder of businesses owned by the government and secure best value for the taxpayer. The appointments were announced yesterday (11 December 2013) by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Both will formally join the Board early in the new year and will be paid a £6,000 annual fee for their services.

Robert Swannell, a chartered accountant and barrister, has been the Chairman of Marks and Spencer since January 2011 having previously spent over 30 years in investment banking with Schroders/Citigroup.

Robin Lawther has been with JPMorgan for 28 years in a number of senior positions, including Head of Investment Banking for the Nordic Region and a Managing Director in the European Financial Institutions Group.

Chief Executive of the Shareholder Executive Mark Russell said: " The Shareholder Executive had a busy year, and I look forward to working with both Robert and Robin to meet the challenges ahead including the government’s target of realising £20 billion by 2020 from corporate and financial asset sales."

The Shareholder Executive was formed in 2003 with a mandate to improve the government’s performance as a shareholder of publicly-owned businesses. It now has a portfolio of around 20 businesses in which government has a shareholding, and works with government departments and management teams to help these businesses perform as commercially as possible.

The Shareholder Executive has developed a wider role as a specialist provider of corporate finance advice across government, which includes advising on asset sales, launch aid and broader forms of assistance for other significant government projects.

About Robert Swannell

Robert Swannell spent over 30 years in investment banking with Schroders/Citigroup, becoming Vice-Chairman of Citi Europe and Co-Chairman of Citi’s European Investment Bank. He has been Chairman of Marks and Spencer since January 2011, formerly Chairman of HMV, and Senior Independent Director of both The British Land Company and 3i Group. His public sector experience includes the Regulatory Decisions Committee of the FSA, the Takeover Panel Appeal Board and the Industrial Advisory Board. He is a Chartered Accountant and Barrister.

About Robin Lawther

Shareholder Executive 2014 Board Membership

Non- Executive Chair

Patrick O’Sullivan

Non- Executive Directors

Claudia Arney
Lord Patrick Carter (stepping down in March 2014)
Gerry Grimstone
Jeremy Pocklington
Robert Swannell
Robin Lawther

Executive Directors

Mark Russell - Chief Executive
Roger Lowe - Director for Royal Mail Unit
Ken McCallum - Director for NDA and Spectrum
Anthony Odgers - Director for Corporate Finance Practice and Portfolio Unit
Ceri Smith - Director for Business Bank and Public Data Group