The Department’s Permanent Secretary, Stephen Peover, welcoming Philippa Mitchell and John Colgan, said: “I am delighted that Philippa and John have accepted these positions and I look forward to working with them. The considerable experience and expertise they bring with them from their respective sectors will enhance the workings of and present a positive challenge to the Departmental Board.”
These appointments follow on from HM Treasury’s guidance on best practice with regard to composition of Departmental Boards (Corporate Governance in Central Departments: Code of Good Practice (2005). The Northern Ireland Civil Service Departments have been moving over the last couple of year to appoint Independent Non-Executive Board Members.
The Non-Executive Board Members will not take executive decisions but will provide external advice and expertise which will inform the decision-making process offering independent constructive challenge to the operation of the Board. They will contribute to the corporate management of the Department by the Board within the strategic policy and resources framework set by the Minister.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. Philippa Mitchell has spent over 25 years as a banker in the international corporate banking markets, working with the international investment banks Chase Manhattan, Merrill Lynch and SEB. From 1999, She spent six years as an independent interim director, providing consultancy, team and change management, project management and business development advisory services.
Philippa joined an executive search group in 2005, where she worked specifically with Private Equity mandates. She has also completed candidate searches in various financial areas, such as fund placement, structured trade finance and real estate, as well as accountancy positions.
Aside from business, Philippa is Chair of Governors for The Charter School, a newly-established state secondary school in inner London. She is also a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of International Bankers, one of the City of London's newest guilds, which combines very well with the school activities, since one of the principal charitable aims of the Guild is to encourage youngsters from inner city areas to consider careers in the City of London.
2. John Colgan left Queen’s University of Belfast with a BSc (Hons) in business administration and computer science in 1988. He trained and qualified as a chartered accountant with Price Waterhouse. Having gained valuable experience in the field of corporate reconstruction, he then specialised in management information systems consultancy.
As a Director of NACCO Materials Handling Group, based in Scotland, he had responsibility for investment appraisal and strategic planning in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Returning to Northern Ireland, he carried out the role of Finance Director in SERE Motor Group, The Wright Group and Montgomery Transport.
In 2003 he established up his own business improvement consultancy, Core Solution Ltd. acting for clients from a range of different sectors as a “hands-on” project or interim manager. More recently he has joined the Tedcastle Group of companies as Commercial Director for John Kelly Fuels (Ireland) with responsibility for developing the group’s property portfolio expansion strategy in the UK and Ireland.
He has served as Non Executive Director for a number of charitable organisations and on the boards of Knockbreda Primary School and Cranmore Integrated Primary School and is a member of the Institute of Directors. John has been an active board member and strong supporter of the Ulster Orchestra Society for the last four years and serves on a number of sub-committees as well as being the current deputy chair.
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