Our leadership
Our leadership team provides entrepreneurial leadership of the Company within a framework of prudent and effective governance. The Board acknowledges its contribution to achieving management accountability, improved risk management and ultimately creating shareholder value over the long term.
Appointed:
2020
Skills & experience:
Jonathan is an experienced FMCG executive, having worked for a number of well-known global branded consumer goods businesses across a range of categories including beauty, personal care, home care and food.
Prior to joining PZ Cussons, he was Chief Operating Officer at Avon Products Inc, where he had overall responsibility for supply chain, marketing, digital, research and development and IT functions and was a core member of the executive team delivering a successful turnaround of the business. He spent the first 21 years of his career at Procter & Gamble, where he worked across a wide range of categories and had extensive experience in developed and developing markets, progressing to General Manager, Oral Care and Feminine Care for the Greater China Region. He has also held senior leadership positions at the Kellogg Company, serving as Managing Director, UK and Ireland and also Vice-President, European markets.
Independent:
No
Committee Member:
Appointed:
2021
Skills & experience:
Sarah joined PZ Cussons in 2021 from Nomad Foods, Europe’s leading frozen food company, where she served as Deputy Chief Financial Officer. Prior to that, she was Chief Financial Officer for their Birds Eye business.
She is a chartered management accountant, having qualified with PricewaterhouseCoopers, and subsequently worked in investment banking, specifically in mergers & acquisitions at Deutsche Bank.
Prior to Nomad Foods, Sarah held a number of senior finance positions at Diageo, Tesco and Unilever. She has worked in commercial, operational and corporate finance roles including investor relations and brings with her a deep understanding of creating shareholder value in the consumer goods sector.
Independent:
No
Committee Member:
Chair of the Remuneration Committee
Member of the Nomination Committee
Member of ESG Committee
Director with responsibility for representing the employee voice and employee engagement
Appointed:
2019
Skills & experience:
Kirsty is an experienced remuneration committee chair and assumed this role on the Board from 1 July 2020. In her executive career of more than 30 years she has most recently been Chief Business Officer at Diaverum AB (2020 to 2023), and before that 24 years at BP plc in senior executive positions, including group head of organisational effectiveness and leading the strategic coordination of the company’s global B2B businesses. She ran her own consultancy QuayFive for four years and today advises CEOs on change, organisational culture and leadership.
Independent:
Yes
Other appointments:
- Non Executive Director of Serco Group plc, chair of Corporate Responsibility Committee
Committee Member:
Member of Remuneration Committee
Member of ESG Committee
Appointed:
2021
Skills & experience:
Valeria is the SVP of digital commerce for Ralph Lauren International based in London. Over the last 25 years, she has worked across multiple regions at different companies including Ralph Lauren, Amazon, Diageo, Boston Consulting Group and Procter & Gamble. She is an international business leader with a focus on digital and business transformation. She has extensive experience of general management, digital, strategy, commercial, innovation and marketing covering fashion, branded consumer goods and online retailing. She is a strategic thinker with a strong track record of business transformation, growth and building brands.
Independent:
Yes
Other appointments:
None
Committee Member:
Member of the Audit & Risk Committee
Member of the Nomination Committee
Member of ESG Committee
Appointed:
2016
Skills & experience:
John has significant experience of global consumer goods for both developed and emerging markets. His early career in marketing and sales was spent at ICI, Unilever and Fosters Brewing Group, then incorporate development and general management. He was a plc board member at Scottish & Newcastle plc, and regional president Americas and executive committee member at Heineken NV. He has also held the positions of chairman at Baltika OAO, deputy chairman at CCU SA, director at United Breweries Ltd India, non-executive director at North American Breweries, and member of the advisory board at Edinburgh University Business School.
Independent:
Yes
Other appointments:
- Non Executive Chairman of A G Barr Plc
- Non Executive Director of Stocks Spirits Group Plc
Committee Member:
Member of the Audit & Risk Committee
Member of Remuneration Committee
Member of ESG Committee
Appointed:
2021
Skills & experience:
Jitesh Sodha is an experienced FTSE director and is the chief financial officer at Spire Healthcare Group plc which he joined in 2018. He also sits on the disclosure committee, executive committee and safety, quality and risk committee at Spire Healthcare. Jitesh was previously chief financial officer at De La Rue between 2015 and 2018, and at Greenenergy International, Mobile Streams, where he led their IPO, and T-Mobile International UK.
Independent:
Yes
Other appointments:
- CFO of Spire Healthcare Group plc
Committee Member:
Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee
Member of ESG Committee
Member of the Remuneration Committee
Appointed:
2020
Skills & experience:
Jeremy served as chief financial officer of Rentokil Initial plc until August 2020. An experienced FTSE 100 finance director, he was previously group finance director of Mitchells & Butlers and held senior finance positions at Sainsbury’s after starting his career with Ernst & Young. He is also a former Accounting Council member of the Financial Reporting Council. He currently serves as a non-executive director of NHS England and chairs its audit and risk committee.
Independent:
Yes
Committee Member:
Chair of the Nomination Committee
Chair of ESG Committee
Appointed:
2022
Skills & experience:
David Tyler’s business experience spans the consumer, retail, business services and financial services sectors. His executive career (1974 to 2006) was spent in financial and general management at Unilever, NatWest, Christie’s and GUS.
Since 2007, he has had a non-executive career, chairing Sainsbury’s, Logica, Hammerson, 3i Quoted Private Equity, and the White Company. He has also been a non-executive director at Experian, Burberry and Reckitt Benckiser. He currently chairs Domestic & General, JoJo Maman Bébé, and Imagr, and became Chair of PZ Cussons in March 2023.
David is also the Chair of the Government-backed Parker Review on ethnic diversity in business.
Independent:
Yes
Other appointments:
- Chair of Parker Review on ethnic diversity in business
- Non Executive Chair of Domestic & General
- Non Executive Chair of JoJo Maman Bébé
- Non Executive Chair of Imagr
Jonathan is an experienced FMCG executive, having worked for a number of well-known global branded consumer goods businesses across a range of categories including beauty, personal care, home care and food.
Prior to joining PZ Cussons, he was Chief Operating Officer at Avon Products Inc, where he had overall responsibility for supply chain, marketing, digital, research and development and IT functions and was a core member of the executive team delivering a successful turnaround of the business. He spent the first 21 years of his career at Procter & Gamble, where he worked across a wide range of categories and had extensive experience in developed and developing markets, progressing to General Manager, Oral Care and Feminine Care for the Greater China Region. He has also held senior leadership positions at the Kellogg Company, serving as Managing Director, UK and Ireland and also Vice-President, European markets.
Sarah joined PZ Cussons in 2021 from Nomad Foods, Europe’s leading frozen food company, where she served as Deputy Chief Financial Officer. Prior to that, she was Chief Financial Officer for their Birds Eye business.
She is a chartered management accountant, having qualified with PricewaterhouseCoopers, and subsequently worked in investment banking, specifically in mergers & acquisitions at Deutsche Bank.
Prior to Nomad Foods, Sarah held a number of senior finance positions at Diageo, Tesco and Unilever. She has worked in commercial, operational and corporate finance roles including investor relations and brings with her a deep understanding of creating shareholder value in the consumer goods sector.
Cath Bailey joined PZ Cussons in April 2023 as Chief People Officer and is responsible for developing and delivering the Global People Strategy including the Group’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy.
Prior to joining PZ Cussons, Cath was Chief People Officer at Manchester Airports Group, and also brings extensive experience of leading the People agenda for a number of global well known brands, including Avon Cosmetics, the Kellogg Company and Barclays. She has also worked as an Organisation Consultancy Partner for US Private Equity companies.
Cath brings strong transformation, talent and succession planning expertise and is passionate about creating an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive.
Oghale is the Managing Director of the Africa Consumer Business and is responsible for leading P&L delivery, market share and business growth. He is also accountable for end-to-end operations management and organizational health across the Africa market.
Before joining PZ Cussons, Oghale served as General Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Managing Director West Africa for SC Johnson. More widely, he spent several years at Procter & Gamble in Africa and the US, holding several leadership roles across market strategy and planning; and commercial management roles for Walmart’s International Customer Team, supporting emerging markets in Asia and Latin America, and health & beauty categories.
Andrew joined PZ Cussons as Chief Marketing Transformation Officer in August 2021, and is responsible for driving growth across our portfolio by creating excellence in brand building, revenue growth management, and innovation.
Andrew is an experienced marketer, passionate about brand building and consumer-centric growth. He is also a Marketing Week columnist, and a thought leader in marketing effectiveness and inclusion and diversity in marketing. Before joining PZ, he spent more than thirteen years at Diageo, working on brands such as Guinness and Johnnie Walker in a variety of roles, latterly as global consumer planning director. Prior to joining Diageo, he spent five years at PepsiCo where he worked in a variety of marketing, insights, and innovation roles on brands including Walkers, Tropicana and Quaker, following six years in brand and research agencies.
Joanna joined PZ Cussons as Chief Sustainability Officer in September 2021, and is responsible for setting the Group’s global sustainability vision, strategy, and our path towards B Corp certification.
Joanna is an avid advocate for corporate responsibility and the role of ethical business practices in creating a better world for future generations. She has 25 years’ experience in senior executive roles across a number of industries. Prior to joining PZ, she was Avon’s Global Director of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility. Before Avon, Joanna spent 20 years at the BT Group where she held a number of senior roles, the last of which was Group Director of ESG, working closely with socially responsible investors, analysts and the financial industry globally in shaping up responsible investment principles.
Jawaz joined PZ Cussons in July 2023 as Chief Information Officer and is responsible for developing and delivering strategies for technology, digital and data.
He has amassed a wealth of global experience, having held senior leadership roles at companies including Reckitt, the Carlsberg Group, Walgreens Boots Alliance and RR Donnelley. In addition to large corporates, he has experience with start-ups, the most recent being Mum & You.
Dimitris was appointed Transformation Leader and Chief Executive Officer of PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC in June 2023.
Having joined PZ Cussons in 1995 working in Business Development in Eastern Europe, he later became Business Development Manager for East Africa, and progressed to join the Africa Executive Leadership Team, with responsibility for the sustainable growth of the business in sub-Sahara Africa. He then spent three years managing our joint venture with Haier in West Africa. He brings vast experience in delivering high growth in emerging economies, specifically in Asia and Africa.
Tracey joined PZ Cussons in January 2022 as Managing Director of Beauty.
Tracey is passionate about fashion and beauty and has over 30 years’ experience leading brands globally, with proven success across multi-channel, multi-site, multi-brand and department stores. Prior to joining PZ, Tracey was Chief International Officer with skincare and wellness brand Perricone MD, after leading the EMEA Charlotte Tilbury business. Tracey has also held a number of senior roles including Managing Director at All Saints, Retail Director at Selfridges and successful senior executive positions in the Arcadia Group.
Kevin joined PZ Cussons as General Counsel and Company Secretary in June 2020 and is responsible for the global Legal, Governance and Compliance function.
Kevin has extensive experience in corporate law and governance across his career having trained as a capital markets and M&A lawyer at leading firms in Canada before moving abroad to join Ashurst LLP in Dubai. More recently, Kevin has held senior legal and governance roles with a particular focus on emerging markets including acting as General Counsel at Vivo Energy plc and as Associate General Counsel and Company Secretary at Tullow Oil plc. Kevin has significant international experience having lived and worked in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
Steve joined PZ in 2010 as Managing Director for Global Procurement, progressing to Global Supply Chain Director for our Beauty and Personal Care Divisions before joining the Executive Leadership Team as Chief Supply Chain Officer in 2021. He is responsible for setting and executing the Group Supply Chain vision and strategy to ensure that the supply chain is flexible and responsive to the business needs whilst being cost efficient.
He brings a wealth of experience spanning commercial, supply chain, marketing and procurement in FMCG and retail businesses including senior leadership roles at L’Oréal and The Body Shop, Bacardi and Somerfield supermarkets.
Alastair (Al) Smith is Managing Director of our ANZ business.
Al joined PZ Cussons in 2007 as a Business Development Manager following retail roles in the UK including Northern Foods, and his career has progressed through senior management commercial roles in both our UK and ANZ business units, most recently as Sales Director for ANZ.
He is an experienced leader with a solid understanding of retail dynamics for PZ Cussons in ANZ and what it takes to deliver profitable growth in competitive categories.
Rob is Managing Director of our UK business, with responsibility for leading our UK business and its continued evolution in line with our group strategy.
Rob is an experienced Managing Director with a passion for brand-building and motivating teams to drive performance. He joined PZ Cussons Australia in May 2001 as an Account Manager for the pharmacy business and quickly progressed through various roles within the organisation in key Asia Pacific markets before accepting the role of Managing Director for our ANZ business, leading a significant turnaround for the local business on behalf of the Group. He accepted the role of Managing Director of the UK in June 2022.
Paul joined PZ Cussons as Interim Managing Director of our Beauty business in 2021, successfully leading the team during a busy transition period, and remaining on the Executive Leadership Team to accept the role of Managing Director, Business Development in January 2022.
Paul brings a blend of over 25 years’ experience in consumer marketing, sales and general management. He started his career at Procter and Gamble, quickly progressing through various senior management roles to Managing Director for Cosmetics International Operations and driving household penetration for brands including Max Factor and Olay.
Ningcy is Managing Director of PZ Cussons Indonesia, a role she was appointed to in June 2023. She is responsible for overseeing operations across Asia, including driving business growth in the Indonesian market.
With over 15 years of experience in Brand and Marketing Management, Ningcy joined PZ Cussons as the Head of Marketing for the Asia region in January 2011. During this period, she has built a strong understanding of PZ Cussons’ Indonesia business, having progressed through five senior leadership positions, including Sales Director. Prior to PZ Cussons, Ningcy held senior roles at Nestlé and Sara Lee, amongst other businesses.
Corporate Governance
The Board is committed to maintaining the highest standards of governance, understanding the role it plays in delivering long-term sustainable success for the Company.


Corporate Governance
The Board is committed to maintaining the highest standards of governance, understanding the role it plays in delivering long-term sustainable success for the Company.
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