Relationship Marketing Strategy and implementation

452 Relationship Marketing

Table 6.1.7 Laura Ashley – Board of Directors, January 1993

Sir Bernard Ashley, Non-Executive Chairman: Co-founder of the business and

husband of the late Laura Ashley.Worked in the City of London from 1947 to 1953, then

became the driving force behind the business. Joint Managing Director with John James

from 1976 to 1988. (Stood down as Non-Executive Chairman in favour of Hugh Blakeway Webb,

24 May 1993. He remains a Non-executive Director.)

Lord Hooson, Non-executive Director: Lord Hooson is a barrister, called to the Bar

in 1949, becoming Queen’s Counsel in 1960. He was Liberal MP for Montgomery for 17

years before being created a life peer in 1979. He was first appointed to the board as a

Non-executive Director in 1985.

Hugh Blakeway Webb, Non-executive Deputy Chairman: Hugh Blakeway Webb is

a barrister, called to the Bar in 1975. In 1978 he joined accountants Deloitte Haskins &

Sells (later to become Coopers & Lybrand Deloitte), becoming a partner in 1983. He

resigned his partnership prior to his appointment to the board in January 1991. He has

had a long association with the firm since he first advised the Ashley family on their tax

affairs in 1982. (Succeeded Bernard Ashley as Executive Chairman in May 1993. Became

Executive Chairman of the company on the resignation of Jim Maxmin on 12 April 1994.)

Takuya Okada, Non-executive Director: Representative of Aeon Group and

Chairman of Jusco Co. Limited. He is Vice Chairman of the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce

& Industry, Special Adviser to the Chairman of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce &

Industry, and Vice President of Japan Fashion Association. He became an Honorary

Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1989, and joined the board of Laura

Ashley on 5 December 1990.

Motoya Okada, Alternate (Non-executive) Director: Appointed 6 August 1992, as

alternate director to Takuya Okada.

Dr Jim Maxmin, Chief Executive: Appointment announced 17 July 1991, moved into

post on 16 September 1991. Previously worked for Unilever before becoming Chief

Executive of Volvo Concessionaires in the UK, then Director of World Retailing at Thorn

EMI. (Resigned 12 April 1994.)

Andrew Higginson, Finance Director: Appointed 10 May 1990, formerly Finance

Director of Guinness Brewing International. (Resigned to join Burton Group Plc, 4 July 1994.)

Denise Lincoln, Human Resources Director: Appointed 3 February 1992, formerly

Group Management Development Director at Grand Metropolitan, with experience of

working in the US. (Resigned 7 June 1994.)

Alphons Schouten, Chief Executive – Continental European Retail:Joined Laura

Ashley in 1981 from the Bluebell Corporation, where he was a marketing director. (Board

notified of his imminent resignation 5 July 1994; resigned 1 February 1995.)