Board of directors

Lord Sharman OBE, chairman, non-executive director

Colin Sharman joined the Board in September 1999 and became chairman in January 2000. He is also chairman of Aviva, and a non-executive director of BG and Reed Elsevier. Colin is a former chairman of KPMG Worldwide, a post he held from 1997 to 1999. He joined KPMG in 1966, became UK senior partner in 1994 and served on KPMG’s international and executive committees. Age 65.

Nomination Committee

Robert Lerwill, chief executive officer

Robert Lerwill was appointed Group CEO in February 2005. He had been a non-executive director since June 2000. He was previously an executive director of Cable & Wireless, as CFO from 1997 to 2002 and as CEO of Cable & Wireless Regional from 2000 to 2003. Robert was Group finance director of WPP Group between 1986 and 1996. He is a non-executive director of British American Tobacco and of Synergy Healthcare. Age 56.

Nomination Committee

Alicja Lesniak, chief financial officer

Alicja Lesniak joined Aegis and the Board in April 2007 as group chief financial officer. Alicja is a chartered accountant who worked in a broad range of roles in marketing services agencies over the past 20 years based in Europe and the US. Previous roles include worldwide CFO of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide and chief financial officer of BBDO EMEA where she served on the Board. Age 56.

Adrian Chedore, CEO, Synovate

Adrian Chedore joined the Board in December 2001. He is CEO of Synovate, and has overseen its development into the world’s fastest growing global market research company. Adrian’s 30-year career in market research includes founding Asia Market Intelligence, acquired by Aegis in 2000, where he was CEO. Age 56.

Mainardo de Nardis, CEO, Aegis Media

Mainardo de Nardis joined Aegis and the Board in August 2006 as global CEO of Aegis Media. An Italian national, Mainardo has spent 27 years in marketing services, with the last 15 years at an international level. His previous roles include CEO of Mediaedge:cia and CEO of media communications agency CIA, where he served on the Board of Tempus Group plc. Age 47.

David Verklin, CEO, Aegis Media Americas

David Verklin joined the Board in September 1999. David has been CEO of Aegis Media Americas since April 1998, where he has overseen the establishment of all Aegis Media operations in North and South America. A US national, David started his career at Young & Rubicam in New York and helped found advertising agency Hal Riney & Partners in San Francisco. Age 51.

Bernard Fournier, non-executive director

Bernard Fournier joined the Board in June 2000. He was chief executive of Rank Xerox, which became Xerox Ltd, from 1989 to 1998, and chairman until December 2001, having held senior management positions in France, the US and the UK. A French national, Bernard is chairman of EDHEC, the largest business school in France. Age 69.

Senior independent director
Audit Committee
Nomination Committee

Leslie Van de Walle, non-executive director

Leslie Van de Walle joined the Board in June 2003. Since January 2007 he has been group chief executive of Rexam, the consumer goods packaging company. His previous roles include executive vice president of Shell Global Retail and chairman of Shell Europe, and Group chief executive of United Biscuits. Previously he held a number of senior international positions at Cadbury Schweppes and Danone. Leslie was born and educated in France. Age 51.

Audit Committee
Nomination Committee

Charles Strauss, non-executive director

Charles Strauss joined the Board in September 2003. He is a US national with 35 years’ international experience in consumer products businesses, including 18 with Unilever. From 2000 to 2004 Charles served on the Unilever Board as Group president, Unilever Home & Personal Care, chairman of Unilever’s North American Committee, and its US president and CEO. He is a senior advisor to Lehman Brothers and a director of The Hartford Financial Services Group and The Hershey Company. Age 65.

Remuneration Committee
Nomination Committee

Lorraine Trainer, non-executive director

Lorraine Trainer joined the Board in August 2005. She has held a number of Human Resource leadership roles in international organisations, focusing on performance and development. These include Citibank, the London Stock Exchange and Coutts, then part of the NatWest Group. She now leads the Business Mentoring practice at Manchester Square Partners. She also has significant experience of working with arts organisations and the not-for-profit sector. Age 56.

Remuneration Committee
Nomination Committee

Daniel Farrar, non-executive director

Daniel Farrar joined the Board in June 2003. He is currently general partner at Morgenthaler Partners, a US buy-out group. Before this Daniel spent 16 years at GE Capital in senior international roles, including president and CEO of GE Capital Fleet Services Europe. A US national, Daniel is a director of Comm-Works, Formed Fiber Technologies and Mark Andy. Age 47.

Remuneration Committee
Nomination Committee

Brendan O’Neill, non-executive director

Brendan O’Neill joined the Board in August 2005. He is a non-executive director of Informa, Tyco International, Endurance Specialty Holdings and Watson Wyatt. Until 2003 Brendan held a number of senior management positions in international businesses. These include chief executive of Guinness Brewing Worldwide from 1993 to 1998 and Group chief executive of ICI from 1999 to 2003. He is chairman of the RAC pension fund trust. Age 59.

Audit Committee
Nomination Committee