Leadership

Born: 1973

Nationality: American

Appointed: Brendan Horgan was appointed as chief executive in May 2019, having served as chief operating officer of the Group since January 2018 and as the chief executive of Sunbelt US and a director since January 2011.  Brendan is the chair of the Finance and Administration Committee. 

Skills: Brendan has worked in the business for more than 25 years and has a detailed knowledge of the operations and brings strong leadership and management skills to his role. 

Experience: Brendan joined Sunbelt in 1996 and has held a number of senior management positions including chief sales officer and chief operating officer. 

Born: 1964

Nationality: British

Appointed: Michael Pratt was appointed as chief financial officer in April 2018.  Michael is chair of the Group Risk Committee and a member of the Finance and Administration Committee. 

Skills: Michael is a qualified accountant with 20 years’ experience with Ashtead within finance roles giving him a detailed understanding of the Group’s business.  He has played a key role in defining the Group’s capital structure. 

Experience: Michael was deputy group finance director and group treasurer from 2012 having joined the Group from PwC in 2003.

Born: 1963

Nationality: British

Appointed: Angus Cockburn was appointed as a non-executive director, chair of the Audit Committee and member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committees in October 2018.  He was appointed as senior independent non-executive director in January 2019.

Skills: Angus brings knowledge of the rental market and specialty businesses, along with a good understanding of the associated strategic and financial issues of operating an international business with a substantial North American presence.

Experience: Angus was chief financial officer of Serco Group plc between October 2014 and April 2021. He has also been a non-executive director of GKN plc and Howden Joinery Group plc, as well as chief financial officer and interim chief executive of Aggreko plc.

Born: 1960

Nationality: American

Appointed: Tanya Fratto was appointed as a non-executive director and a member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committees in July 2016 and as a member of the Audit Committee in September 2019.

Skills: Tanya has wide experience in product innovation, sales and marketing and engineering in a range of sectors and has extensive knowledge of operating in the US. 

Experience: Tanya enjoyed a 20-year career with General Electric where she ran a number of businesses. Previously a non-executive director of Smiths Group plc and Mondi Group.

Born: 1961

Nationality: British

Appointed: Lucinda Riches was appointed as a non-executive director and a member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committees in June 2016 and chair of the Remuneration Committee and member of the Audit Committee in September 2016.

Skills: Lucinda has extensive investment banking and capital markets experience.

Experience: Lucinda was formerly global head of Equity Capital Markets and a member of the board of UBS Investment Bank.  She has held a range of non-executive roles with public companies.

Born: 1967

Nationality: British

Appointed: Roy Twite was appointed as a non-executive director and member of the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees in June 2024.

Skills: Roy brings wide-ranging knowledge of the global industrial sector along with extensive strategic, management and operational experience.

Experience: Roy is currently chief executive of IMI plc where he has worked in a variety of senior roles including leading the Automation, Climate Control, Retail Dispense and Automotive sectors.  In addition, Roy was previously a non-executive director of Halma plc.