Our Board
Paul Batchelor Chairman (Non-executive)
Paul Batchelor was appointed chairman on 1 May 2007 having been a non-executive director of the company since 2006. Paul is a recently retired member of Pricewaterhousecoopers' Global Management Team, responsible for strategy development. A development economist by background, he has, as a management consultant, specialised in major international development projects and the reform of public enterprises, public services and public administration. He is a member of the Advisory Council of Transparency International and of the Supervisory Group of AIESEC, and is Chairman of Oxford Policy Management.
Francis Sumner Deputy Chairman (Non-executive)
Francis Sumner is a former partner in Norton Rose, a leading firm of City solicitors. He is also senior independent director of The Bankers Investment Trust PLC and Member of the Council of The City and Guilds of London Institute. He is Chairman of the Trustees of Crown Agents Superannuation Scheme.
Keith White, CBE Chief Executive
Keith White joined Crown Agents in 1971 and specialised in international trade law and practice. He was Company Secretary until 1998 and was Chief Operating Officer until 2005. He is President of HF Holidays Ltd, a substantial industrial and provident society. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, a fellow of the Royal Society for Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, and a fellow of the Institution of Royal Engineers.
Jenny Borden, OBE Director (Non-executive)
Jenny Borden is an indpendent consultant in the international development field. During 2008/09 she was Interim CEO of Interact Worldwide and is currently Interim Executive Director of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance. She was Chair of Practical Action, the Intermediate Technology Development Group and is a past Chair of British Overseas NGOs for Development. She was appointed to the Board in June 1998. Until 2000 she was International Director and Deputy Director of Christian Aid.
Garry Hopcroft Director, Corporate Performance
Garry Hopcroft joined Crown Agents in December 1999 and is currently responsible for driving our efforts to improve corporate performance. In addition, Gary is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Crown Agents USA Inc. overseeing our US business and ensuring we maximise growth. Prior to joining Crown Agents Garry held a number of positions at Board and senior management level within the high value, distribution and logistics industry in Southern Africa where he gained a strong international background in finance and accounting.
Simon Jones Director, Corporate Services
Simon Jones joined Crown Agents in December 2003 and has responsibility for the provision of specialist advice on both the provision and sourcing of resources to support business growth. He has specific responsibility for the group finance function, the development and maintenance of an effective ICT environment to meet the needs of the business and the provision of core HR services to the group. Simon is also responsible for maintaining compliant and effective corporate policies, systems and procedures. He is a finance professional with extensive experience of influencing and delivering business change, and has worked most recently with CSC Computer Sciences Corporation, delivering business and culture change through finance, human resources and innovative accounting and management information systems. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.
Chris Masters, CBE Director (Non-executive)
Dr Chris Masters CBE is currently the Chair of Sagentia Group PLC, a technology consulting and development company based in Cambridge and of the Festival City Theatres Trust in Edinburgh. He also holds a number of other non-executive directorships, including the Wood Group PLC, Alliance Trust PLC, British Assets Trust PLC, The Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Creative Scotland. He was previously chief executive of Christian Salvesen PLC, executive chair of Aggreko plc and chair of the Scottish Funding Council, the Babtie Group Ltd and the Scottish Media Group PLC. An industrial chemist by training, he has received the Harrison Memorial Prize from the British Chemical Society and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He has extensive experience in international business and joined the Board in 2005.
Nigel Platts Director (Non-executive)
Nigel Platts is a recently retired partner of KPMG, the global network of professional services firms, where he specialised in audit and advisory services to a wide range of international clients in areas including electronics, international trading, transport and shipping, banking and fund management. In 1999 he was appointed first Managing Partner of a new venture, K-Legal. He is advisor to a UK medical research charity.
Stephen Ramsey Director, Consulting & Project Management
Stephen Ramsey joined Crown Agents in 2006 and has responsibility for the Consulting & Project Management Directorate. This covers all aspects of consultancy and project implementation relating to our work in institutional development and capacity building in the areas of customs, trade facilitation, taxation, aid, and debt management. Stephen also has responsibility for the management, development and delivery of our procurement and logistics services. He is a finance professional with experience of the commercial and profitable delivery of technical consultancy and services, performance efficiency and change management. He was formerly Chief Operations Officer of WRC plc and has held a variety of international posts with the Commonwealth Development Corporation. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Steve Taylor Director, Business Development
Steve Taylor joined Crown Agents in 2004 to head the Business Development Directorate. A marketing professional, he is experienced in strategic business development, key account management and running international operations. During his years with Crown Agents he has led a process of decentralisation, building capacity overseas and leveraging client benefits where Crown Agents works with all the bilateral and multilateral donors and recipient governments. He is responsible for the key client relationships in HMG (UK), Government of Japan and USAID (USA) and is a board member of the UK Japan 21st Century Group and of British Expertise. Steve has previously worked for Unilever in Tokyo before returning to the UK to lead a major restructuring of the company's Asia business and prior to this he spent five years with Cadbury Schweppes with regional responsibility for business operations in Africa and the Middle East. In 2009 Steve became a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology.
Lynn Hale Company Secretary
Lynn Hale joined Crown Agents in 1970 and worked in procurement and board services before spending a number of years based in Nairobi as Regional Manager in Eastern Africa. Prior to his appointment as Company Secretary in 2002 he was Strategic Planning Manager for the Crown Agents' group.
Trevor Niven Director, Group Financial and Accounting Services
Trevor Niven is a Chartered Accountant who has spent all of his post-qualification career in commerce in various financial management roles. Prior to joining Crown Agents in 1996 he worked for nine years as Group Financial Controller of an international freight forwarding and industrial property group, followed by eleven years as Finance Director of a branded wines and spirits company. He was appointed Group Financial Controller of Crown Agents in 2001.