Grafton Group plc has announced the appointment of Ian Tyler as Independent Non-Executive Director, Chair Designate and a member of the Nomination Committee with effect from March 1, 2024. He will succeed Michael Roney as Chair of the Board and the Nomination Committee when Mr. Roney steps down from the Board at the conclusion of the Company’s Annual General Meeting on May 2, 2024.
Mr. Roney joined the Board on 1 May 2016 as Chair Designate and assumed the role of Chair on 1 January 2017. He advised the Board that, subject to completion of a search to appoint his successor, he would not seek re-election at this year’s AGM and the Nomination Committee initiated a search for a new Chair under the leadership of Paul Hampden Smith, Senior Independent Director.
Mr. Tyler is a highly experienced Chair and former Chief Executive with wide-ranging experience across a range of industries. He has deep board level experience gained as an Executive Director, Board Chair and Non-Executive Director of listed companies.
He is currently Non-Executive Director of Anglo American plc and Synthomer plc and Chair of BMT Group Ltd, a privately owned design and technical consulting firm and Affinity Water Ltd, a privately owned business. He will be stepping down from his role with Affinity Water Ltd during 2024 at a time to be agreed once his successor has been appointed.
Mr. Tyler was previously Chair of Amey UK plc, Vistry Group plc, AWE Management Ltd, Al Noor Hospitals Group plc and Cairn Energy plc. He is a former Non-Executive Director of BAE Systems plc, Cable & Wireless Communications plc, VT Group plc and Mediclinic International plc.
Mr. Tyler’s primary executive career was at Balfour Beatty plc, a global infrastructure business that he joined in 1996 as Finance Director of Balfour Beatty Group Ltd, its principal trading subsidiary. He was appointed Group Finance Director of Balfour Beatty plc in 1999, Chief Operating Officer in 2002 and Chief Executive in 2005, a role he held until 2013.
In his early career, Mr. Tyler trained as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen and held a finance role with Storehouse plc. Prior to joining Balfour Beatty plc, he was Financial Controller of Hanson plc and Finance Director of ARC Ltd, one of its principal subsidiaries.
Paul Hampden Smith, Senior Independent Director commenting on Chair succession said: “Following the completion of a thorough process supported by an international search firm, we are very pleased to have secured a Chair of Mr. Tyler’s calibre. He was the stand-out candidate for the role and was appointed because of his strategic, commercial, financial and Board experience gained over three decades at a leadership level in a range of mainly large businesses. On behalf of the Board, I am delighted to welcome Ian to Grafton.
Mr. Roney has a very distinguished track record in international business and I would like to thank him for his leadership of the Board. He has made a major contribution to the strategic development of Grafton and the Board recognises and acknowledges his influential role in the Company for the benefit of all stakeholders. We extend our very best wishes to Mike for the future.”
Ian Tyler, Chair Designate commenting on his new role said: “I am delighted to be joining the Board of Grafton at this stage in its development and look forward to working with the Board and Eric Born, CEO. I was attracted to the role of Chair because of the Group’s portfolio of high quality, high returning businesses, its excellent financial position and the prospect of increasing shareholder value over the coming years.”
Michael Roney, Outgoing Chair commented: “It has been a privilege for me to serve as Chair of the Grafton Board and I am particularly proud of the successful execution of the strategic plan, the creation of a strong and more diverse board and the strengthening of the executive team. I congratulate Mr. Tyler on his appointment as my successor. I am confident that under his leadership of the Board and with Eric Born as CEO, Grafton should continue to prosper and deliver value for shareholders.”
