KEY PEOPLE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RICHARD ROSE, NON-EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
Richard has a wealth of experience chairing high profile boards. He has been Non-Executive Chairman of Watchstone Group plc since May 2015. Previously he has held a number of positions in organizations such as AC Electrical Wholesale, where he was Chairman from 2003 to 2006 and Whittard of Chelsea plc, where he was Chief Executive Officer and then Executive Chairman from 2004 to 2006.
In accordance with best practice under the UK Corporate Governance Code, he stepped down as Non-Executive Chairman of Booker Group plc in July 2015 having served three terms of three years each and in 2016 he retired as Chairman of AO World plc. Richard is also Non-Executive Chairman of CurrencyFair Limited.
MARTIN SHUKER, NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Martin has had a long and distinguished career with Yum Brands, the US Fortune 500 Global hospitality business. He spent 24 years in a variety of leadership roles, most recently as Managing Director KFC Western Europe where he had full strategic, growth and operational responsibility over 1,700 restaurants and 165 franchisees which generated £2.3 billion in sales and £120 million of profit.
As MD of KFC UK, he more than doubled sales to £1.3 billion and met or exceeded targets in 11 of 13 years.
Martin has demonstrated his ability in consistently achieving growth and bottom-line performance of established owner-operated and franchise businesses over a long period of time and has relevant experience in entering new territories through franchise routes. He successfully opened new markets in a number of European countries and has demonstrated his ability to both manage an established franchise network as well as establishing new networks in new territories.
Prior to YUM, Martin had a variety of marketing roles with United Biscuits.
Martin is chairman of the Company’s Remuneration Committee.
PHILIP SHEPHERD, NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Philip is a former partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers (“PwC”), where he originally trained in audit and tax, qualifying as an ACA in 1987.
Following a career in corporate finance and transaction advisory services, Philip returned to PwC in 2004 working both in the UK and overseas, leading Strategy and Deals practices, with a particular focus on the hospitality and leisure sectors. Since leaving PwC in 2018, he has held a number of board and advisor roles, again with a focus on hospitality and leisure. He regularly travels abroad where he advises, and speaks, on the experiential leisure market and start up opportunities. Philip combines his experience in accounting and audit with deal evaluation and execution, and has a deep understanding of the hospitality and leisure markets both in the UK and globally.
Philip is chairman of the Company’s Audit Committee.
RICHARD HARPHAM, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Richard joined the Company on its Admission to AIM after working since November 2016 with the xpfactory (formerly Escape Hunt) management team, getting to know the business. Richard’s prior role was with Harris + Hoole, having been Chief Financial Officer and then Managing Director, responsible for its turnaround.
Before this Richard spent over four years at Pret A Manger as Global Head of Strategy. Richard has also held a number of strategic and financial positions at companies including Constellation Brands, Shire Pharmaceuticals and Fujitsu Siemens Computers.
GRAHAM BIRD, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Graham joined the Company on 6 January 2020 bringing significant experience in financial and City matters and in growing small businesses. He is a chartered accountant, having qualified with Deloitte in London, and has worked in advisory, investment, commercial and financial roles.
Prior to joining xpfactory, Graham was one of the founding employees at Gresham House plc where, in addition to supporting the growth of Gresham House plc, he was responsible for establishing and managing the successful strategic equity business unit which focuses on both quoted and unquoted equity investments using the principles and practices of private equity.
Prior to joining Gresham House, Graham spent six years in senior executive roles at PayPoint Plc, including director of strategic planning and corporate development and executive chairman and president of PayByPhone.
Before joining PayPoint plc, he was head of strategic investment at SVG Investment Managers, having previously been at JPMorgan Cazenove, where he served as a director in the corporate finance department.