The Company's Board comprises the independent non-executive chair, the chief executive, the senior independent director and five other non-executive directors.  

Paul Walker

Independent non-executive chair

Born: 1957

Nationality: British

Appointment: Paul Walker was appointed as a non-executive director in July 2018 and non-executive chair in September 2018.  Paul is chair of the Nomination Committee and a member of the Finance and Administration Committee.

Skills: Paul spent 16 years as chief executive officer of The Sage Group plc (‘Sage’), giving him a deep insight of the challenges of running a global business. He has a strong financial background and high-level non-executive experience, which adds to the Board’s strength.

Experience: Paul’s roles at Sage included chief executive officer, finance director and financial controller.  He has also been non-executive director at Diageo plc, Experian plc, Halma plc, Sophos Group plc and MyTravel Group plc.

Brendan Horgan

Chief executive

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. 

Alex Pease

Chief financial officer

Born: 1972

Nationality: American

Appointed: Alex was appointed as chief financial officer in March 2025.

Skills: Alex brings over 20 years of experience in finance, corporate strategy, M&A, capital markets, portfolio optimisation and broad-based business transformation.

Experience: Alex was formally CFO of WestRock Company from 2021 until its merger with Smurfit Kappa in 2024.  Before that, Alex served as CFO for three public companies of increasing global scale and complexity.  Prior to transitioning to his financial leadership roles, Alex spent more than 10 years with McKinsey & Company in a wide range of advisory roles, leaving as a partner in 2011.  He also served as a US Navy SEAL from 1994 to 2000

Angus Cockburn

Senior independent director

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.

Jill Easterbrook

Independent non-executive director

Born: 1971

Nationality: British

Appointed: Jill Easterbrook was appointed as a non-executive director and a member of the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees in January 2020. 

Skills: Jill brings strong digital experience within retail environments to the Board. 

Experience: Jill was previously the chief executive officer of JP Boden & Co and formerly held a number of senior positions with Tesco PLC.

Tanya Fratto

Independent non-executive director

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.

Renata Ribeiro

Independent non-executive director

Born: 1971

Nationality: Brazilian and American

Appointed: Renata was appointed as a non-executive director and a member of the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees in January 2022. 

Skills: Renata brings strong commercial and digital experience to the Board.

Experience: Renata is currently Senior Vice President, Operations Strategy for Carnival Corporation & plc where she has worked since 2008. 

Lucinda Riches

Independent non-executive director

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.

Roy Twite

Independent non-executive director

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.