Scott has over 35 years’ experience in operations, finance and mergers and acquisitions, including 15 years at Cendant Corporation, which was formerly the largest provider of travel and residential property services worldwide. Scott established Cendant’s international headquarters in London in 1999 and led this division as Group Managing Director until he joined Rightmove in 2005.
Scott is also the Chair of Cars.com (CARS:NYSE) and Senior Independent Director and Remuneration Chair of Auction Technology Group plc (ATG:LSE). Scott was previously the Chair of Rightmove plc, Orbitz Worldwide Inc., and was an Independent Director for Travelport Worldwide, Inc.
Philip Thomas is Chief Executive of Ascential plc. He is also Chair of Cannes Lions, having been CEO of Lions Festivals for ten years, between 2006 and 2016.
He began his career as a journalist, working on national and international magazines and newspapers, and editing Empire, the UK’s biggest-selling movie magazine, before moving into publishing and becoming Managing Director of FHM worldwide, launching the iconic men’s magazine in more than 30 countries.
He was appointed Managing Director of Emap’s Australian and South East Asian division, based in Sydney for three years, before returning to the UK and being appointed Chief Executive Officer of Lions Festivals.
Philip is Chair of Media Trust, an honorary Fellow of the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising, and a Member of the BBC Advisory Board on AI Personalised Content. Philip was cited as one of the Agents of Change for Gender Equality by the UK's Management Today magazine.
Mandy Gradden joined the company as CFO in January 2013. As part of her role, Mandy manages and leads the investor relations, finance, tax, treasury, legal and procurement teams working closely with the CEOs and finance leaders within the business divisions.
Before joining Ascential, Mandy was CFO at Torex, the privately held retail technology firm, and was a key member of the team that managed the successful turnaround and sale of that business. Prior to that, she was CFO at the FTSE 250 business and technology consultancy, Detica Group plc, where she was instrumental in managing the company's growth from £39 million to £203 million during her six-year term. Earlier, she was Director of Corporate Development at Telewest Communications and Group Financial Controller at Dalgety.
She began her career at Price Waterhouse, where she spent eight years and where, in 1992, she qualified as a chartered accountant.
Mandy is a Non-Executive Director of Spectris plc and Chair of the FCA’s Listing Authority Advisory Panel.
Gillian has an executive career of over 25 years in software, internet, digital media and mobile technologies. Previously, Gillian held various senior roles at Microsoft including Managing Director of MSN UK, creating one of the UK’s largest online services businesses. Both at Microsoft and in a range of other businesses, including media, fashion and as CEO of Propertyfinder.com she established her expertise in building markets and brands for products and services.
Gillian is also a Non-Executive Director of Mothercare plc, SIG plc, Marlowe plc and THG plc.
Judy was Chief Executive Officer of LexisNexis International, a division of Reed Elsevier plc, from 2001 until February 2014. LexisNexis is a leading provider of content enabled workflow solutions, employing 3.200 people. Judy was responsible for the successful expansion of online services to over 100 countries. Prior to LexisNexis, she held executive roles within the Xerox Corporation in the US and Europe.
Judy is also an engagement Non-Executive director of SSP Group plc.
Rita has worked with many of the world’s leading companies on their brand strategies. She was vice chair and strategy director at Saatchi & Saatchi, and for over 15 years was London CEO and then chair at Interbrand, the world’s leading brand consultancy. Rita has also held a number of board roles in the not-for- profit sector, including the Government’s Sustainable Development Commission and as Trustee, then Fellow, of WWF. She is on the Assurance and Advisory Panel for BP’s Target Neutral and was a director of Henley Festival.
Rita is Deputy Chair and Non-Executive Director of John Lewis Partnership, Chair of the Forum for the Future and a Trustee of the Green Alliance.
Suzanne has a wealth of executive and non-executive experience gained in listed, privately owned, public and third sector environments.
Her non-executive experience includes current positions as, external board member and Audit Committee Chair of the legal and professional services firm Pinsent Masons International LLP, Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chair of Auction Technology Group plc and Member of Audit Partner Remuneration and Admissions Committee and Independent Non-Executive, Public Interest Body of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Suzanne spent her executive career in the professional and business services sectors. She was CFO at Mitie Group plc between 2006 and 2017, prior to which she held a range of operational, sales and commercial roles at Serco Group plc and was a Non-Executive director and audit committee Chair of the retailer WHSmith plc.
She is a chartered accountant and Fellow of the ICAEW having trained at Price Waterhouse and worked at Deloitte where she specialised in corporate finance and M&A transaction support. Her pro-bono activities have included Chair roles within Business in the Community’s campaign groups and at the Business Services Association trade body.