Board of Directors

Peter Hickson was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Chemring Group PLC on 1 July 2010 and succeeded Ken Scobie as Chairman of the Board on 1 October 2010. Currently Chairman of Communisis plc, and a non-executive director of UK Coal. He has had senior management experience with a number of large international companies and previous appointments include Chairman of Anglian Water Group, Finance Director of Powergen plc and non-executive directorships of Scottish Power plc, Marconi Corporation plc, RAC plc, London & Continental Railways Ltd and Kazakhmys plc. He is also a trustee and Board member of Orbis Charitable Trust, the international sight saving charity, and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Aged 66.

Dr David Price CBE took over as Chief Executive of Chemring Group PLC on 4 April 2005, and has overseen its promotion to the FTSE 250. Dr Price was educated at University College, London and is a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering & Technology, and the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology, Fellow of the Institute of Directors, and a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute.  He was elected to the DMA Council in 2006, joined the SBAC council in 2007, the Defence Industries Council in 2008 and has recently been appointed Non-Executive Director of AZ Electronic Materials S.A. His career in Defence contracting spans over 25 years, initially in research and technical roles with EMI and Thorn-EMI. For the last ten years, David has taken on a number of managerial and strategic roles, firstly with Thomson CSF (as Chief Executive of Missile Electronics Ltd, then MD of Thomson UK Holdings Ltd) and more recently as MD of Naval Marine Business for Rolls Royce PLC, where he had responsibility for managing a global business with a turnover in excess of £450 million per annum.  David was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)  in the 2010 New Year Honours for his services to the defence industry.
Aged 57.

Sarah Ellard was appointed as Group Legal Director on 7 October 2011. Sarah joined Chemring Group PLC in 1994, and was appointed as the Group Company Secretary in January 1998. Sarah is responsible for all legal and compliance matters, insurance, and employee benefits, and is a member of the M&A team. In addition to her role as Group Legal Director, Sarah fulfils the role of Company Secretary. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators. Prior to joining the Group, Sarah trained and worked at Ernst & Young LLP.
Aged 41.

Paul Rayner joined the Group in 1994 and acted as Finance Director to several Group companies before being appointed to the Board in August 1999. In September 1999 he was appointed Group Finance Director responsible for Performance Management, Investor Relations, Tax, Treasury and Financial Reporting. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Before joining Chemring Paul held a number of senior positions with financial institutions including Senior Audit Manager with Deloitte & Touche.
Aged 50.

The Rt Hon Lord Freeman joined the Group as a Non-Executive Director in May 2006. Chairman of the Audit Committee. Currently a Consultant (formerly Partner) to PricewaterhouseCoopers and Chairman of Thales UK plc. He is also on the main Board of Thales S.A., France. Chairman of Cambridge Enterprise - the University Technology Transfer Office. Partner with Lehman Brothers Investment Bankers between 1969 and 1985. Member of Parliament from 1983 to 1997. Made a Privy Councillor in 1993. Minister 1985-1997.
Aged 69.

Ian F R Much joined the Group as a Non-Executive Director in December 2004. Senior Independent Director and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee. Previous appointments include Chief Executive of De La Rue plc and T&N plc, and Non-Executive Director of Admiral plc, Camelot plc, Manchester United plc and Simplyhealth Group Ltd. Currently Senior Independent Director and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee of Senior plc and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee of BTG plc.
Aged 67.

Vanda Murray was appointed as a Non-Executive Director on 1 November 2011. Vanda has over twenty years of plc experience and has held a number of Non-Executive Directorships. She is currently Non-Executive Director of Carillion plc, The Manchester Airport Group plc and Microgen plc. Until recently she was Deputy Chairman of the North West Regional Development Agency and a Non-Executive Director of SIG plc. Vanda has a broad industrial background, with notable experience in manufacturing operations both in the UK and internationally. She was Chief Executive Officer of Blick plc, where she implemented a business restructuring programme, and subsequently UK Managing Director of Ultraframe PLC. Prior to 2001, Vanda held various senior Sales and Marketing roles, during which time she was responsible for driving sales, business development, and assessing potential acquisitions and partnerships. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and in 2002 was appointed OBE for Services to Industry and to Export.
Aged 51.

Air Marshal Sir Peter Norriss joined the Group as a Non-Executive Director in May 2004. Currently a consultant to Tessella PLC and a Senior Adviser to Newton, he is also a member of major programme review teams for the Office of Government Commerce and an adviser or court member at 4 universities. Formerly Deputy Chief of Defence Procurement (Operations) and Controller Aircraft on the Air Force Board. Past President of the Royal Aeronautical Society (2003-4).
Aged 68.