Board of directors
David von Simson (1950)
Non-Executive Chairman
David von Simson is a co-founder of Europa Partners Limited, a London based investment bank, and was formerly a managing director of Warburg Dillon Read (now UBS). He was successively chief executive, then chairman, of SBC Warburg France, which was a leading foreign-owned investment banking, stockbroking and fund-management group in France. Before joining Warburg Dillon Read in 1995 (when Swiss Bank Corporation acquired S.G. Warburg), he was co-head of corporate finance at Swiss Bank Corporation in London, prior to which, he was an executive director of Hill Samuel & Co. Limited. He has also served as a non-executive director of companies, including Gardner Merchant Services Group plc, a leading food services provider in the U.K. He was founding chairman of InTechnology plc, which was admitted to trading on AIM in 2000. He also serves as non-executive chairman of Qatar Investment Fund plc. David has an honours degree in Law from Oxford University.
Non-Executive Chairman
David von Simson is a co-founder of Europa Partners Limited, a London based investment bank, and was formerly a managing director of Warburg Dillon Read (now UBS). He was successively chief executive, then chairman, of SBC Warburg France, which was a leading foreign-owned investment banking, stockbroking and fund-management group in France. Before joining Warburg Dillon Read in 1995 (when Swiss Bank Corporation acquired S.G. Warburg), he was co-head of corporate finance at Swiss Bank Corporation in London, prior to which, he was an executive director of Hill Samuel & Co. Limited. He has also served as a non-executive director of companies, including Gardner Merchant Services Group plc, a leading food services provider in the U.K. He was founding chairman of InTechnology plc, which was admitted to trading on AIM in 2000. He also serves as non-executive chairman of Qatar Investment Fund plc. David has an honours degree in Law from Oxford University.
Lawrence Albert Kearns (1948)
Non-Executive Director
Larry was formerly Chairman of Anglo Irish Bank Corporation (I.O.M.) P.L.C. and its subsidiaries in the Isle of Man. Prior to that he was Managing Partner of Ernst & Young in the Isle of Man from 1990 to 2002. After the sale of Ernst & Young fiduciary business in 2002 to Anglo Irish Trust Co Ltd, he became an executive director of that company. On his retirement in 2004 he assumed the position of Chairman. Following a management buyout in December 2006, Anglo Irish Trust Co Ltd was acquired by Equiom Limited, of which Larry is the Chairman. Larry was Chairman of the Isle of Man Society of Chartered Accountants in 1988 and President of the Chamber of Commerce from 1991-1993.
Non-Executive Director
Larry was formerly Chairman of Anglo Irish Bank Corporation (I.O.M.) P.L.C. and its subsidiaries in the Isle of Man. Prior to that he was Managing Partner of Ernst & Young in the Isle of Man from 1990 to 2002. After the sale of Ernst & Young fiduciary business in 2002 to Anglo Irish Trust Co Ltd, he became an executive director of that company. On his retirement in 2004 he assumed the position of Chairman. Following a management buyout in December 2006, Anglo Irish Trust Co Ltd was acquired by Equiom Limited, of which Larry is the Chairman. Larry was Chairman of the Isle of Man Society of Chartered Accountants in 1988 and President of the Chamber of Commerce from 1991-1993.
Paul Martin Macdonald (1953)
Non-Executive Director
Paul Macdonald qualified as a chartered accountant in 1979. He worked for Pilkington plc for sixteen years, the last seven of these in Germany. In Germany he was managing director for Pilkington Deutschland GmbH (holding company) and managing director at both Flachglas AG (glass manufacturer) and Dahlbusch AG (property and holding company). For the last eight years Paul has been active in the private equity market and has been successful in developing a number of companies covering a number of industries including Sirona Beteiligungs GmbH (Germany), a leverage buyout from Siemens. Paul is a non-executive director of Qatar Investment Fund plc.
Non-Executive Director
Paul Macdonald qualified as a chartered accountant in 1979. He worked for Pilkington plc for sixteen years, the last seven of these in Germany. In Germany he was managing director for Pilkington Deutschland GmbH (holding company) and managing director at both Flachglas AG (glass manufacturer) and Dahlbusch AG (property and holding company). For the last eight years Paul has been active in the private equity market and has been successful in developing a number of companies covering a number of industries including Sirona Beteiligungs GmbH (Germany), a leverage buyout from Siemens. Paul is a non-executive director of Qatar Investment Fund plc.
Graça Simbine Machel (1945)
Non-Executive Director
Graça Machel is a renowned international advocate for women and children's rights and has been a social and political activist over many decades. She is President of the Foundation for Community Development (FDC), a not for profit organisation she founded in 1994. FDC makes grants to civil society organisations to strengthen communities, facilitate social and economic justice and assist in the reconstruction and development of post war Mozambique.
Over the years, Mrs. Machel has gained international recognition for her achievements. Her many awards include the Laureate of Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger from the Hunger Project in 1992 and the Nansen Medal in recognition of her contribution to the welfare of refugee children in 1995. She has received the Inter Press Service's (IPS) International Achievement Award for her work on behalf of children internationally, the Africare Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award and the North-South Prize of the Council of Europe, amongst others. Graça Machel has served on the boards of numerous international organisations, including the UN Foundation, the Forum of African Women Educationalists, the African Leadership Forum and the International Crisis Group. Amongst her current commitments, she is Chair of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization Fund, Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, South Africa and Panel Member of the African Peer Review Mechanism.
Non-Executive Director
Graça Machel is a renowned international advocate for women and children's rights and has been a social and political activist over many decades. She is President of the Foundation for Community Development (FDC), a not for profit organisation she founded in 1994. FDC makes grants to civil society organisations to strengthen communities, facilitate social and economic justice and assist in the reconstruction and development of post war Mozambique.
Over the years, Mrs. Machel has gained international recognition for her achievements. Her many awards include the Laureate of Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger from the Hunger Project in 1992 and the Nansen Medal in recognition of her contribution to the welfare of refugee children in 1995. She has received the Inter Press Service's (IPS) International Achievement Award for her work on behalf of children internationally, the Africare Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award and the North-South Prize of the Council of Europe, amongst others. Graça Machel has served on the boards of numerous international organisations, including the UN Foundation, the Forum of African Women Educationalists, the African Leadership Forum and the International Crisis Group. Amongst her current commitments, she is Chair of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization Fund, Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, South Africa and Panel Member of the African Peer Review Mechanism.
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