Appointed Chief Executive of Ocean Group plc in September 1994. Graduated in mathematics from Edinburgh University. Started business career in marketing with Lever Brothers, moving to Bristol-Myers Company Limited and Fine Fare Limited. Joined BET plc in 1985 and appointed to the Board in 1987, with specific responsibilities as Director of Business Services (Europe) and Group Marketing Director. Non-executive Director of Wolseley plc and PHS Group plc. Member of the CBI's Presidents' Committee, the International Advisory Committee of the Singapore Economic Development Board and the University of Edinburgh Campaign Board. Chairman of Freight Transport Association and Vice Chairman of Freight Forwarding Europe (Trade Association). Age 55.

Joined Ocean Group plc in October 1995 as Finance Director. Appointed Deputy Chief Executive on completion of the merger in 2000 and Group Finance Director in July 2001. Joined Arthur Andersen & Company for eight years after gaining a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University College Cork, followed by eight years with Tomkins plc and became Director - Financial Services. Appointed non-executive Director of Yell Group plc in June 2002. Age 45.

Joined Exel Logistics Americas in 1986, appointed Chief Executive Officer, Exel Logistics Americas in 1995. Appointed Board member of former Exel plc in December 1999. Previously spent eight years at Space Center, Inc, a US-based logistics company as Vice President for Dallas, Houston and Chicago operations. Currently responsible for consumer, retail, healthcare, chemical and home delivery in the Americas. Has also assumed Board level responsibility for the Group's global automotive business. Member of the Council of Logistics Management, the Warehousing Education and Research Council and the Columbus Port Authority Commission. US citizen. Age 48.

Appointed a Director in March 2001. Joined LEP Air Services in 1969 before moving to Jardine Air Cargo which was acquired by Ocean Group plc in 1986. In 1992, became Vice President of the Export Division of MSAS and then President and Chief Executive Officer of the Americas and subsequently also Japan, Korea and the South Pacific. Moved to current position on completion of the merger. Also Director of Cargo 2000, Member of the Council of Logistics Management, the International Air Cargo Association and the Sprint Global Advisory Board. Age 49.

Joined Ocean Group plc in 1971 and appointed to the Board in 1994. Graduate chemist and post-graduate of the London Business School. Previously held a number of positions at Ocean Group plc including Group Strategic Planner; Director, Marine Division; and Managing Director, Cory Towage Limited. Joined Cory Environmental in 1990. Non-executive Director of Environmental Services Association Limited since November 2000 and Chairman since November 2003. Age 58.

Appointed to the Board of Ocean Group plc in January 1997. Non-executive Chairman of Exel plc since October 2002. Previously Managing Director of Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited and Group Chief Executive of Trafalgar House plc. Non-executive Chairman of Hamptons Group Limited and non-executive Director of Granada plc, CP Ships Limited and Pacific Assets Trust plc. Co-Chairman of the Philippine British Business Council. Age 57.

Appointed to the Board of former Exel plc in February 1996. President and former Chairman of Chesterton International plc, a provider of property related services. Non-executive Director of Pearl Group Limited, Pearl Assurance plc, AMP (UK) Holdings, AMP (UK) plc, NPI Limited, National Provident Life Limited, Norwich and Peterborough Building Society and Chairman of the NHS Appointments Commission. Age 63.

Appointed to the Board of Ocean Group plc in February 2000. Until September 2003, part-time Senior Management Advisor for Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting), where he became Partner in 1979, and Managing Director of the Travel and Transportation Industry in Europe in 1991, following 33 years' service as a Consultant. Since 1998, Partner in Rocket Ventures, a group of Information Technology Venture Capital Funds in Silicon Valley. Non-executive Director of Eurostar Group Limited and non-executive Director of Invensys plc since January 2003. French citizen. Age 60.

Appointed to the Board of Exel plc on 25 September 2003. Group Finance Director of Cookson Group plc since March 1996. Previously Finance Director of Medeva PLC. US citizen. Age 54.

Appointed to the Board of former Exel plc in October 1998. Formerly executive Director responsible for UK and Scandinavian operations of Compass Group and a Board Director from 1993 to 2000. Member of the Supervisory Board of Compass Germany and Austria and non-executive Director of Care UK plc, Dolphin Nurseries Limited and Kew Green Hotel Limited. Appointed non-executive Director of UK Explorer Limited in April 2002 and Punch Taverns plc in May 2002. Austrian citizen. Age 59.

Appointed to the Board and member of the Audit Committee on 1 February 2004, John McDonough is an experienced international businessman and is currently Group Chief Executive of Carillion plc. He was formerly Vice President, Integrated Facilities Management, Europe, Middle East and Africa of Johnson Controls Inc and is also a member of the CBI’s Public Services Strategy Board. Age 52.