Archives: Management Profile

Nicola Hodson, Independent Non-Executive Director

12 January 2018

Contribution and experience

As Chair of the Remuneration Committee Nicola brings to the role a wide range of experience of international business, government organisations, and dealing with a variety of stakeholders.

Nicola is currently Chief Executive of IBM UK and Ireland and Deputy President of TechUK. Previously she was Vice-President, Global Sales and Marketing, Field Transformation at Microsoft, Chief Operating Officer of Microsoft UK and previously held P&L and sales roles at Siemens, CSC (now DXC) and EY. Nicola is a Non-Executive Director of Beazley plc.

Nicola brings expert level technology knowledge, with her current working experience at the forefront of global organisations. She is also skilled in business and digital transformation, and sales. Nicola is committed to inclusivity and enabling people to realise their full potential, irrespective of their background.

Appointment to the Board:

January 2018

Board committees:

  • Member of the Audit Committee
  • Member of the Nomination Committee
  • Chair of the Remuneration Committee

External Appointments

  • IBM UK and Ireland (Chief Executive)
  • TechUK (Member of the Board)
  • Beazley plc (Non-executive director)

David Nussbaum, Senior Independent Non-Executive Director

1 August 2017

Contribution and experience

David holds a portfolio of Board appointments, including as Chair of Anthesis Group, of International Alert and of the Joffe Trust.  He also serves as a member of the Board (‘Council’) of Chatham House, and of the International Budget Partnership; is President of the Advisory Council of Transparency International UK; and is a member of the Ethical Investment Advisory Group of the Church of England.

David’s executive career included being the Chief Executive of The Elders, of WWF-UK, and of Transparency International.  He was previously Finance Director and Deputy CEO of Oxfam, and CFO of Field Group plc.  In a non-executive capacity, David has been Deputy Chair of the International Integrated Reporting Council, Deputy Chair of Shared Interest Society, a non-executive director of Low Carbon Accelerator Limited, and Chair of Traidcraft plc.

David is a chartered accountant, and has a Masters in Theology from both Cambridge and Edinburgh universities, and a Masters in Finance from London Business School.

David’s extensive experience in international development and environmental matters, in addition to his prior experience as CFO of a UK listed industrial company, is of significant value to Drax and contributes to the Board’s discussions and understanding of the perspectives of and engagement undertaken with stakeholders.

Appointment to the Board: 

August 2017

Board Committees:

  • Member of the Audit Committee
  • Member of the Nomination Committee

External appointments:

  • Anthesis Group (Chair)
  • International Alert (Chair)
  • Joffe Charitable Trust (Chair)
  • Chatham House (Member of the Board)
  • International Budget Partnership (Member of the Board)
  • Ethical Investment Advisory Group of the Church of England (Member)
  • Advisory Council of Transparency International UK (President)

Philip Cox CBE, Chair

Contribution and Experience

Philip’s responsibilities at Drax included Board composition and succession, Board governance and stakeholder engagement.

He was previously CEO of International Power plc, having formerly been CFO. Prior to this he held a senior operational position at Invensys plc and was CFO at Siebe plc. As a non-executive, he was previously Chair of Kier Group plc, the Senior Independent Director at Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc, Chair of Global Power Generation and a member of the boards of Talen Energy Corporation, PPL, Meggitt plc and Wincanton plc.

Philip is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and has an MA from Cambridge University.

Philip is an experienced leader of large businesses, particularly in the energy sector. As Chair, Philip cultivated a culture of openness, transparency and honesty on the Board in which constructive debate and challenge occurs and all directors contribute fully. Philip has an in-depth knowledge of energy markets and the related regulation. He also has extensive experience in stakeholder engagement.

Appointment to the Board:

January 2015 – December 2023

Appointment as Chair:

April 2015 – December 2023

Will Gardiner, Group Chief Executive Officer

Will has driven the vision and operations of the company since becoming CEO in January 2018, inspiring Drax’s transformation from a leading UK renewable energy company to global leadership in sustainable biomass with the ambition to be a global leader in carbon dioxide removals.

Sustainability considerations are at the core of everything at Drax. Will is driving Drax’s sustainability agenda, taking a thought leadership role in defining sustainability criteria for woody biomass. Working with stakeholders across the spectrum, Will is creating a purpose led company at Drax to ensure outcomes that are positive for people, nature and the climate.

In addition to being CEO of Drax, Will is a Commissioner of the Energy Transitions Commission, a member of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders and a member of Conservation International’s European Council.

Will joined Drax in 2015 as CFO and was appointed as CEO in January 2018. He has a wealth of experience in finance and technology, having held CFO and divisional Finance Director roles at a number of major companies, including CSR plc (acquired by Qualcomm, Inc in 2015) and Sky. He has dual US-UK citizenship and has lived and worked in the UK since 1998.

Appointment to the Board: November 2015

Matthew Rivers, Group Special Advisor

30 May 2017

A former Corporate Affairs Director and member of the Executive Committee, Matthew has also previously been Chairman of our US business, Drax Biomass Inc., ensuring good integration between the UK and US business operations.

External appointments:

  • Member of the Board, Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP)

Previous experience:

Executive

  • Drax Group (Corporate Affairs Director and Chairman, Drax Biomass Inc.)
  • UPM (Finland) (Director – Overseas Wood & Biomass Sourcing, Director – Energy Biomass)
  • UPM Tilhill (UK) (Managing Director – for the UK’s largest private sector forest management and timber harvesting business)
  • Forestal Oriental (Uruguay) (Managing Director – responsible for plantation management and wood supply)

Non Executive

  • Chairman, Drax Biomass Inc.
  • Member of the Board, US Industrial Pellet Association (USIPA)

Qualifications:

  • (For) Hons, Forestry Aberdeen
  • B.A., Strathclyde
  • Fellow Institute of Chartered Foresters
  • Chartered Environmentalist