Synthomer plc announced the appointment of two independent non-executive directors, Janet Ashdown and Jonathan Silver, who will join the Board on 1 July 2025. Janet Ashdown has significant experience of general management primarily in the process and chemicals industries, as well as environmental and sustainability matters, and has chaired corporate remuneration committees for more than 10 years. Janet had a 30-year executive career at BP plc until 2010, running the UK retail and commercial fuel business in her last role there.
She then became chief executive of Harvest Energy, until 2013. Janet is currently a non-executive director and remuneration committee chair at Victrex plc, a non-executive director and chair of the remuneration and corporate sustainability committees at RHI Magnesita plc and a non-executive director of Stolt-Nielsen plc. She has previously served as a non-executive director and remuneration committee chair of Marshalls plc and SIG plc, and as senior independent director and chair of committees including for health, safety, security and sustainability of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, a UK Government arm's length body.
Janet holds a BSc in Energy Engineering from the University of Swansea. Janet will join the Synthomer Board's audit, remuneration and nomination committees on appointment and will succeed Holly Van Deursen as Chair of the Remuneration Committee in late 2026. Jonathan Silver has significant international experience in finance and accounting, risk and controls, treasury, investment management and mergers and acquisitions, having served in a variety of senior roles culminating in chief financial officer during his 30-year executive career to 2015 at Laird plc.
Prior to this Jonathan held finance roles at the pharmaceutical and agrichemicals group Fisons plc. Jonathan is currently non-executive director, senior independent director and audit committee chair at Spirent Communications plc. Jonathan also serves as a non-executive director and audit committee chair at Baillie Gifford China Growth Trust plc and at Henderson High Income Trust plc, and previously served in the same roles at Invesco Income Growth Trust plc.
He is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. Jonathan holds a BA in Business from the University of Strathclyde. Jonathan will join the Synthomer Board's audit, remuneration and nomination committees on appointment and will succeed Ian Tyler as Chair of the Audit Committee later this year.
Further to the announcement of 5 March 2025, Ian Tyler will step down from the Board of Synthomer and his roles as Senior Independent Non-executive Director and Audit Committee Chair in December 2025. JANET ASHDOWN's date of birth is July 1959 and occupation is Director. JONATHAN SILVER's date of birth is September 1957 and occupation is Director.
