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Pendragon PLC Annual Report 2021
with provision 38 of the Code.
However, as outlined in the
Director’s Remuneration Report at page 79, it is our intention
to ensure the chief operating officer’s salary supplement in
lieu of pension contribution is reduced accordingly such that
by 2023 it will be aligned to the pension contribution available
to the wider workforce, and compliance with provision 38 of
the Code will be achieved.
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AND INDEPENDENCE
The legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic for the Board has been a
rapid switch to remote working without affecting the efficacy
or the ability of the Board to function.
Throughout ten
months of 2021, when he continued to hold the role of Interim
Chairman as well as Chief Executive Officer, Bill Berman has
ensured that the Board performed effectively through a well-
functioning combination of Board and committee meetings
and other appropriate channels for strategic input and
constructive challenge from non-executive directors, whilst
remaining vigilant of the need to avoid any conflict of interest
in such situations where exercising the responsibilities or
functions ordinarily carried out by the chairman where they
may conflict with the responsibilities or functions ordinarily
carried out by the chief executive officer. In this respect, until
the appointment of Ian Filby as non-executive chairman on 01
November 2021, the Board and interim chairman, as advised
by the company secretary, operated conflict management
procedures with intensified and enhanced vigilance for the
first ten months of the year. These procedures were deemed
effective.
Although throughout the early part of 2021, the
Board’s primary focus was on the effective operational
management of the Company as national restrictions
associated with the pandemic began to be lifted, the Board
was also able to focus on reinstating a Board structure where
the roles of non-executive chairman and chief executive
officer are performed by separate individuals, in accordance
with provision 9 of the Code, culminating in the appointment
of Ian Filby as non-executive chairman on 01 November 2021.
Through the conflict management procedures outlined above,
and the evaluations which are described below, we have
concluded that:-
•
the Board’s collective skills, experience, knowledge of the
company and independence allow it and its committees
to discharge their respective duties properly;
•
the Board and each of its committees is of the right size
and balance to function effectively;
•
we have satisfactory plans for orderly succession to
Board roles;
•
the non-executive chairman and respective committee
chairmen are performing their roles effectively;
•
all non-executive directors are independent in character
and judgment;
•
no director has any relationships or circumstances which
could affect their exercising independent judgement; and
•
the non- executive chairman and each of the non-
executive directors is devoting the amount of time
required to attend to the company’s affairs and their
duties as a Board member.
•
The Board considers that Bill Berman provided strategic
leadership whilst fulfilling the role of interim executive
chairman, and that, following his appointment to the role
of non-executive chairman, Ian Filby has also provided
strategic
leadership
in
continuation.
The
Company
considers that the Board has been able to function
effectively.
During 2021, the Board received briefings
from company executives to familiarise directors with
strategic developments and key aspects of the Group’s
business.
BOARD EVALUATION
The Board and its committees conducted formal evaluations
of their effectiveness in 2021, facilitated by the company
secretary, addressing questions based closely on the Code,
applicable good governance topics and drawn from best
corporate practice. The results were reviewed by the non-
executive chairman, the Committee chairmen and the Board
as a whole and the non-executive chairman has factored
suggested improvements into our 2022 Board programme.
More details on the Board’s approach to individual and Board
evaluation are on the company’s website.
RE-ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
In accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code,
all current Directors will be subject to annual re-election or
election (in the case of new Directors) at the AGM.
INFORMATION AND SUPPORT
To ensure our decisions are fully informed and debated,
the chairman ensures that our Board’s business agenda is
set timely to allow appropriately detailed information to be
circulated to all directors before meetings.
The company
secretary facilitates the flow of information within the Board,
attends all Board meetings and is responsible for advising the
Board and its Committees, through their respective chairmen,
on
corporate
governance
and
matters
of
procedure.
All
directors have access to support from the company secretary
on matters of procedure, law and governance and in relation
to their own induction and professional development as Board
members.
All directors are entitled to take independent
advice at the Company’s expense, and to have the Company
and other Board members provide the information required
to enable them to make informed judgements and discharge
their duties effectively.
HOW THE BOARD MANAGES RISK
The Board and our Committees each operate to a set meeting
agenda which ensures that all relevant risks are identified and
addressed by appropriate controls.
We review management
information which helps us to prescribe operating controls and
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT