Audit & Risk Committee
The primary role of the Audit & Risk Committee is to ensure the integrity of the financial reporting and audit processes, and the maintenance of sound internal control and risk management systems.
The Audit & Risk Committee Terms of Reference can be found at pages 16-23 of the Governance Framework below.
-
Richard HowesNon-executive DirectorBiography
Appointed: 1 September 2022
Skills and experience: Richard’s background in senior financial positions at large listed companies in a variety of sectors brings valuable insight to the Board’s discussions. Richard holds a BSc in Geography from Loughborough University and is a Fellow of the ICAEW.
Career experience: Richard is Chief Financial Officer of Bunzl plc, the specialist international distribution and services Group. Richard qualified as a Charted Accountant with Ernst & Young before moving to the investment bank Dresdner Kleinwort Benson. Prior to joining Bunzl in 2019, Richard held CFO positions at various multinational businesses including Inchcape plc, Coats Group plc and Bakkavor plc.
Committee ChairCommittee Membership -
Pam ChengNon-executive directorBiography
Appointed: 1 March 2020
Skills and experience: Pam’s experience in the areas of R&D, manufacturing, sales and marketing, commercial operations, supply chain management and technology gained within large global businesses in strategically important regions for Smiths, further strengthens the Board’s discussions on embedding world-class operations. Pam holds a BSc and a Master’s degree in chemical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey and an MBA in Marketing from Pace University, New York, USA.
Career experience: Pam is Executive Vice President, Global Operations, IT & Chief Sustainability Officer at AstraZeneca plc, a multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company. Pam assumed additional responsibly for the AstraZeneca sustainability strategy and function in January 2023. Prior to joining AstraZeneca in 2015, Pam was President of MSD (Merck & Co., Inc.) in China. Pam has also held various engineering and project management positions at Universal Oil Products, Union Carbide Corporation and GAF Chemicals.
Committee Membership -
Dame Ann DowlingNon-Executive DirectorBiography
Appointed: 19 September 2018
Skills and experience: Dame Ann’s contribution to engineering research is internationally recognised, and her knowledge and background offer a different perspective to Board discussions, particularly as they relate to engineering, innovation and sustainability. Dame Ann has a degree in Mathematics and a PhD in Engineering.
Career experience: Dame Ann has had a distinguished academic career and is currently a Deputy Vice Chancellor and an Emeritus Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cambridge, where she served as Head of Engineering for five years until 2014. She served as the President and Chairman of Trustees of the Royal Academy of Engineering from 2014 to 2019 and as a Non-executive Director of BP plc from 2012 until May 2021, where she was a member of the Safety and Sustainability Committee.
Committee ChairCommittee Membership -
Bill SeegerSenior Independent DirectorBiography
Appointed: 12 May 2014
Skills and experience: Bill has had a long and successful career in finance in the engineering sector, gaining an in-depth knowledge of global markets. Bill’s extensive experience in global engineering businesses supports the Board’s robust decision-making. Bill has a BA in economics and an MBA.
Career experience: Bill was appointed Chairman of the Remuneration & People Committee on 1 July 2018, and as Senior Independent Director at the 2018 AGM. Bill has been Chairman of the Finance Committee since it was formalised in November 2021. With effect from 1 February 2022 Bill was appointed to the Board of ICU Medical, Inc. in accordance with the terms of the shareholder agreement entered into with the sale of Smiths Medical. He is also a member of ICU’s Audit and Compliance Committee. Bill was Group Finance Director at GKN plc, a global engineering group, until his retirement in 2014. At GKN he also held the roles of CEO of the Propulsion Systems Division and CFO of the Aerospace Division. Prior to that, Bill spent 30 years at TRW, a US-based automotive and aerospace group, where he held various senior finance positions.
External Appointments- Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee at Spectris plc - Lecturer at UCLA Anderson School of ManagementCommittee Membership -
Mark SeligmanNon-executive directorBiography
Appointed: 16 May 2016
Skills and experience: Mark’s extensive experience in corporate finance and capital markets supports Board discussion of the Group’s portfolio management and strategy. Mark brings non-executive experience to the Board, having served as senior independent director and audit committee chairman at several FTSE 100 companies. Mark has an MA in philosophy, politics and economics.
Career experience: Mark is a former senior investment banker and during his executive career he held various roles at Credit Suisse, including Chairman of UK Investment Banking.
External Appointments- Senior Independent Director at NatWest Group plc - Alternate member at Panel on Takeovers and Mergers for the Association for Financial Markets in EuropeCommittee ChairCommittee Membership -
Noel TataNon-executive DirectorBiography
Appointed: 1 January 2017
Skills and experience: Noel has had a successful career in global business. He has extensive experience of the high-growth economies which are key markets for our growth strategy and has been invaluable in developing key strategic relationships in Asia since joining the Board. Noel has a BA in Economics.
Career experience: Noel was the Managing Director of Tata International Limited (TIL), a global trading and distribution company and a trading arm of the Tata Group, a privately owned multinational holding company. Under the terms of the Tata Group governance guidelines, he retired from the position of Managing Director on 12 November 2021. He was thereafter reappointed as a Director and Non-Executive Chairman of TIL with effect from 15 November 2021.
External AppointmentsEach of the following companies forms part of the Tata Group: - Non-independent Non-executive Chairman at Tata Investment Corporation, Trent Ltd and Voltas Ltd - Non-independent Non-executive Vice Chairman at Tata Steel Limited and Titan Company LtdCommittee Membership