Louise Smalley

Senior Independent Director 

Appointed October 2021, as Remuneration Committee Chair in January 2022 and as Senior Independent Director from 1 December 2024

Louise has extensive experience of branded consumer propositions and a deep understanding of talent management and remuneration within large UK and international corporations. She attended the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and has experience integrating sustainability strategies.

Louise served as Whitbread plc’s Group HR Director, where she was also an Executive Director for nine years, having held HR directorships within Whitbread’s Hotels & Restaurants and David Lloyd Leisure divisions. Before joining Whitbread, she worked in human resources at Esso and BP Oil.

Louise is a Non-Executive Director at AG Barr plc and was a Non-Executive Director at DS Smith plc until September 2024.