Non-Executive Directors to provide greater expertise and guidance

The Royal Parks announced today a change to its governance structure with the establishment of a new board and separate executive committee.

Four Non-Executive Directors have been appointed including Board Chairman The Hon Apurv Bagri, Managing Director, Metdist Group; and Board Members Ruth Anderson, Vice Chairman, KPMG (UK) LLP; Andrew Fenwick, Group Finance Director and Financial PR Partner, Brunswick Group LLP; and Sue Moore, Marketing and Communications Director at Land Securities Trillium. The Board will also comprise The Royal Parks' Chief Executive and three other Executive Directors.

Following a review of The Royal Parks' governance arrangements, the Board has been established to improve accountability between the Minister for Culture, Creative Industries & Tourism and The Royal Parks' Chief Executive, and to make better use of non-executive contributions.

The Board will provide a strategic overview, guiding and challenging The Royal Parks to ensure performance is maintained and improved.

Mark Camley, Chief Executive of The Royal Parks said: "I am delighted to welcome the appointment of such high calibre individuals to The Royal Parks' Board. Their knowledge, experience and insight will be a great asset to the Parks and I look forward to working with them to drive the organisation forward."

The Hon Apurv Bagri, Chairman of The Board said: "The Royal Parks are unique and it is a privilege for all of us on The Board to be involved in their future."

For further press information, please contact:

Lucy Skipper on 020 7298 2145 or lskipper@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk

Notes to Editors

• Board Chairman The Hon Apurv Bagri is the Managing Director of the Metdist Group. He is a Board Member of the Dubai Financial Services Authority and the UK India Business Council. Apurv is also Deputy Chairman of the Governing Body of London Business School, a Member of Council and Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee at City University, a visiting Professor at Cass Business School, and a Trustee of the Royal Parks Foundation. He served on the IPPR Task Force on Racial Equality and Diversity in the Private Sector and was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Science from City University in March 2006.
• Ruth Anderson is Vice Chairman at KPMG (UK) LLP. Since joining the firm in 1976, she has had a number of management roles including Member of the UK Board. She has worked extensively as an adviser with UK and international businesses, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. Ruth is also a Trustee of a cancer charity and an Advisory Committee Member to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
• Andrew Fenwick is the Group Finance Director and Financial PR Partner at Brunswick Group LLP and a Non-Executive Director of Fenwick Limited. A Fellow of the Institute of Charted Accountants, Andrew previously worked at Deloitte Haskins & Sells and Broad Street Associates. He is currently Chair of Governors at New King's Primary School, Fulham; a Trustee of the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Association; and a Trustee and Treasurer of the Royal Parks Foundation.
• Sue Moore is Marketing and Communications Director at Land Securities Trillium. Previously, Sue worked at British Airways plc for over 15 years in roles including Culture Change Programme Director and Head of Brands before joining Rok plc where she was Strategic Development Director. Sue started her career at Unilever, where she worked in a range of posts including Senior Brand Manager and New Product Development Manager.
• Non-Executive Directors will not be remunerated.
• The term of appointment for Non-Executive Directors is four years.
• The Board will meet quarterly and will meet for the first time in April 2008.
• The Board will not be expected to oversee or manage operational or functional matters.
• The Board has two subsidiary committees:
  • The Executive Committee comprises senior Royal Parks' managers and is responsible for operational leadership;
  • The Audit Committee is chaired by Andrew Fenwick. Its function is to ensure compliance with statutory or other guidance.
• The Executive Directors on the Board are: the Director of Parks; the Director of Strategy and Communications; and the Director of Finance.
• The Board replaces the Ministerial Advisory Board.
• The Royal Parks are: Bushy Park, The Green Park, Greenwich Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill, Richmond Park and St James's Park. For more details visit: www.royalparks.org.uk
• The Royal Parks Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.