Mark Robson Email & Phone Number

An international distributor of building materials to trade customers and has leading regional or national positions in the distribution markets in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands. Grafton is also the market leader in the DIY retailing market in Ireland and is the largest manufacturer of dry mortar in the UK. Trading from circa 530 branches and has circa 11,000 colleagues. Its portfolio of brands includes Selco Builders Warehouse, Leyland SDM, MacBlair, MFP, CPI EuroMix, TG Lynes and StairBox in the UK; Chadwicks and Woodie's in Ireland, Isero and Polvo in the Netherlands and IKH in Finland.

United Kingdom

Group CFO of UK’s largest furniture group with international operations in USA, France and China. Turnover £2bn. Employees 12,000. FTSE 100.Particular achievements in this role include:• Established a reputation in the City for financial leadership, strategic restructuring, and steering the Group through a period of intense threat (FTSE’s most shorted stock, aggressive lenders/creditors and legal claims from MFI’s buyers larger than the Group’s value) which faced MFI from one month after I joined.• Fundamentally restructured the Group, involving a refinancing and re-addressing the interests of all financial stakeholders (banks, shareholders, suppliers, trade credit insurers and pension fund trustees)• Strategically refocused the group involving major M&A activity. Disposed of key overseas operations and major UK brands, culminating in the transaction for the MFI Retail stores in the UK. • Led the drive for international sourcing of product through overseas supply joint ventures including the closure of 5 UK factories.• Awarded “European Listed Company Turnaround of the Year 2009” (the 2008 winner was Morrisons) and “PLC Awards: Turnaround of the Year 2009”.• Energised and refocused taxation activities (rapid seizure of “low hanging fruit” and strategic opportunities).• Managed HQ effectiveness project resulting in a radical reduction in cost and a major improvement in cashflow via working capital performance.• Established and leveraged Finance function’s pivotal role as all round contributor.

Global

Group CFO of major (FTSE250, ex-FTSE100) Industrial Group with diverse ‘b2b’ activities and a very international (manufacturing and service operations on all five continents with major operations in USA and Asia) and complex structure. Turnover £1.2bn. Employees 12,000. Particular achievements, with directly traceable EPS enhancements, include:• Lead role in Group refocusing by a transforming acquisition and disposal program (50 % of asset base, innovative deals, Class Is, MBOs) which resulted in a consistently rising EPS and share price. More than 30 transactions successfully concluded. Disposals realised £300m while acquisitions were made in the USA, South Africa and across Asia. • Lead role in rebuilding City perceptions (managing expectations, balance sheet performance, EPS enhancements from financial activities, improved disclosure, crafted announcements).• Revitalised business performance (“beneath” EBIT, Fixed Costs, ABC costing, cash-focus, incentive programs). Achieved sector-leading ROCE at 21%.• Complete rebuild of funding and treasury activities (refinancing, hedging, simplification).• Dynamic management of £800m pension fund to maintain a surplus position.• Quickly established reputation for achievement and shrewdness with a particularly senior group of non-executives (Chairmen of Prudential, Railtrack, Wimpey and directors of Marks & Spencer and British Steel/Corus) and secured an exceptional group of relationships with bankers, investors, analysts and other professional advisors.

North Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

World’s leading chemical business (FTSE 20, Turnover 20bn, Global Group with 150,000 employees).Responsible for complete finance function of ICI’s worldwide Performance Chemicals businesses, reporting to the CEO. This was ICI’s leading business and represented the focus for changing the whole ICI portfolio from Bulk to Speciality Chemicals. Turnover £1.5bn. Employees 3,500. Particular achievements during the period include:• Building and establishing the finance function for a newly formed group of ICI businesses.• Transforming the performance of the business, in part by leading a major acquisition and divestment programme.• Integrating and merging the Speciality Chemical businesses of Unilever PLC.

Brussels, Brussels Region, Belgium

Responsible for finance function of ICI’s worldwide PVC Polymers business, reporting to the Chief Executive. Turnover £1bn. Employees 3,000. Particular achievements during this period include:• Led the team which resulted in the independent flotation of the business at a market capitalisation of £800m. • Determined and initiated rapid implementation of business systems strategy.• Initiated and implemented innovative cost reporting process shifting focus from margin to profit responsibility throughout senior levels of the business.

Cheshire

Responsible for review and audit function of ICI’s international pharmaceuticals business, reporting to the Financial Director. Turnover £3 bn. Employees 20,000. [As part of ICI’s demerger process the pharmaceuticals business became an independently quoted company (Zeneca plc/AstraZeneca plc) and now ranks in the UK’s top 10 by capitalisation. Particular achievements during this period include:• Designing and implementing performance culture through detailed review cycle.• Against the background of demerging the business, I devised and implemented the Corporate Governance infrastructure for the business, establishing an Audit Committee and new risk-focused financial and internal control procedures.• Initiating and implementing new internal control and risk management system for the global business.

London, England, United Kingdom

Responsible for the ICI Group’s reporting function – management reporting and financial accounting (UK Annual Report, USA 20-F), reporting to the ICI Group Controller. Turnover £20 bn. Employees 120,000. Particular achievements during this period include:• Leading the HQ financial team in the successful acquisition of Stauffer Chemicals (USA) (purchase price $1,800m). Full time involvement for six months. Responsibilities included due diligence of companies to be acquired (and companies to be quickly sold on), financing, siting, synergy and transfer pricing issues.• Being a leading member of ICI’s Treasury Management Committee, which directs and monitors ICI Finance plc – the company responsible for funding, exchange risk management, short-term cash management and debt factoring for the ICI Group.• Initiating and effecting the non-disruptive re-organisation of the ICI group’s financial reporting function enabling it to contribute more effectively to its customers with reduced manpower.

Teeside

Responsible for devising and evaluating strategic business plans for the Board of ICI’s Agrochemicals business and evaluating alternative commercial strategies (M&A, competitive attack, capital investments, collaborative ventures, licensing deals etc). Reporting to the Financial Director. Turnover £2 bn. Employees 10,000. Particular achievements during this period included designing and implementing a new forecasting system featuring sensitivity analysis and “What If” facilities.

Trained within the firm’s audit department (including six months in tax dept). Left at Manager level. Every promotion achieved in minimum possible time equalling the PW record for achieving manager level. Experience of a wide range of clients in size and sector terms. Responsible for:• Managing audit work• Corporate Finance (acquisitions (incl. Class 1), management buy-outs, etc.)• Computer Consultancy (specialist training for installation and application reviews)