Holdings Board

Mark Pullen,  Independent Non-Executive Chairman

Mark Pullen has worked in the consumer goods industry for over 30 years, most recently as group finance director for Geest PLC – a position he held for 10 years – which also included responsibilities for IT, purchasing, corporate finance, PR and legal. He has also worked with Unilever and Guinness in a number of capacities including logistics, strategic planning, industrial relations and brand marketing. Mark is a qualified accountant with a business degree and is currently a non-executive director and chair of the audit Committee of Buckinghamshire Primary Care Trust and an advisor to small charities through his membership of Pilotlight.

Mark is chairman of Nisa-Today’s Nominations Committee and is a member of its Remuneration Committee.

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Stephen Jempson,  Acting Member Non-Executive Deputy Chairman

Stephen Jempson is joint managing director of Jempsons Ltd. He joined the family business in 1979, before buying it with his brother Andrew in 1995. Jempsons Ltd has won numerous awards, including Independent Grocer of the Year twice. Jempsons was a founder member of Nisa-Today’s and Stephen has sat on the Holdings Board for almost five years.

Stephen is a member of Nisa-Today’s Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee.

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Neil Turton,  Chief Executive Officer, Nisa -Today’s

Neil has overall responsibility for developing the success of Nisa-Today's and leads the executive team.

He began his career with Marks and Spencer, completing its management training scheme. Joining Nisa-Today's in 1991 as a buyer, Neil has spent the last 18 years in a wide variety of roles at Nisa-Today's, latterly as chief operating officer. In 2007, he was promoted to chief executive officer.

A passionate believer in independent retailing and wholesaling, Neil regularly speaks on industry issues and is also the Chairman of the Association of Convenience stores, the “voice of local shops” representing 33,000 retailers.

John Schofield,  Chief Financial Officer, Nisa-Today’s

John joined the group in 1990 after leaving his own accountancy practice which he had run for eight years. John has over 30 years experience in accounting and finance and is a fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (FCCA). John has been an invaluable member of the Holdings Board for 16 years.

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Bill Laird,  Managing Director, The Today’s Group

Bill Laird joined the Today’s Group in March 2009 as managing director heading up a team of 12 people.

Bill has spent his entire career within the grocery and non-food sectors first working in store based management roles for Wm.Low and ASDA Stores followed by various field management roles at Texas Homecare, Woolworths PLC and Somerfield Stores. He worked at Midcounties Co-operative for seven years being promoted from group general manager to chief operating officer where he led a sustained period of growth and business change.

Bill joined the Today's Group from his own consultancy and has supported a number of UK retail and international foodservice organisations to develop and implement new strategic approaches within their various markets. He has a wealth of experience in senior management roles having spent the last 11 years working at Board level.

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John Sharpe,  Managing Director Central Distribution Trading & Logistics, Nisa-Today’s

John Sharpe joined Nisa-Today’s 20 years ago as frozen food controller, becoming managing director of Central Distribution Services in 2001, after fulfilling a number of other directorial roles within the Group.

He was appointed as managing director of Central Distribution Trading & Logistics in early 2006 and has been a member of the Holdings Board for seven years.

Formerly with Booker for 10 years as buying and marketing controller, John has a wealth of knowledge in fresh and frozen food, covering strategy, development and implementation. In his current role, John is responsible for all aspects of Central Distribution Trading and the Group’s award-winning ambient and temperature-controlled supply chain.

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Rowan Black

Rowan Black is from Northern Ireland and managing director of J.T. Green and Sons Ltd. The company operates a 12,500 sq. ft. store in a high street location in Lisburn, Co. Antrim and was founded by Rowan’s late father in 1974. Rowan was one of the founding Nisa members in Northern Ireland. He has had a long-standing interest in the progression of Nisa-Today’s (Holdings) Ltd and has attended the company AGMs for the past 15 years. Rowan has also previously sat on the NRS Board and currently serves as a member of the Northern Ireland Committee of the Institute of Directors.

Rowan is a member of Nisa-Today’s Remuneration Committee and its Nominations Committee.

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Paul Delves

Paul joined the family business, started by his grandfather – Harry Tuffin – in 1978. The business grew over the coming years and in 1982 became a member of Nisa-Today’s. Paul is now managing director of Harry Tuffin Ltd and is responsible for seven stores in an estate ranging from 1,500 sq ft to 60,000 sq ft.

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Manish Dhamecha

Manish joined Dhamecha Foods Ltd in 1980. His current role as managing director of Dhamecha Foods - which was a founder member of the Today’s Group - includes the day-to-day running of a multi food and drinks cash and carry business which has grown steadily to a turnover exceeding £300m. Manish has been a Board director of Nisa-Today’s for over 20 years.

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Colin Graves

Colin Graves is founder and chief executive of Costcutter Supermarkets Group.

He launched Costcutter Supermarkets Holdings Limited in 1986, which has grown from just seven stores to over 1,400, crossing over to Poland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Costcutter joined Nisa-Today’s over 20 years ago and Colin has sat on the Board for the majority of that time.

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Simon Hannah

Simon joined J W Filshill in 1998 as a fourth generation family member. In the early stages of his career he was encouraged to gain a “hands on” understanding of the workings of the company at grass roots level. To that end he spent his first five years working in every department. These roles included stock replenishment, order picking, goods in, despatch and then working within the sales team, which has given him a fantastic base knowledge of the company.

He joined the buying team in 2003 working in the alcohol division of the company. Simon has had an active role in developing the company’s retail symbol group with primary focus being on retailer discipline and in-store excellence.

In 2006 he was promoted to director of the company focusing on its development.

He was invited to become a council member of the Scottish Wholesale Association in 2005 and in 2008 he was appointed licensed convenor for the Association in which he took an active role in influencing the wholesale strategy for the Licensing Scotland Act.

Also in 2008 Simon joined the Today’s Wholesale Council.

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Kishor Patel

Kishor, along with his brother Pradeep, purchased his first store in 1985 in Houghton Regis and since then has acquired seven further stores, plus an Indian Takeaway.

He joined Nisa-Today’s in 2004 and has traded under the Nisa Local facia since.

In recognition of his hard work and commitment over the years, Kishor has won several trade accolades.

Kishor has over 35 years experience in retailing and he is a director on the boards of ACS direct, Skillsmart Retail Ltd, chairman of Nisa Symbol Group Development Committee and a trustee of the Sweet Charity and Making a Difference – Locally charities.

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Peter Bellini

Peter started his working life as a motor engineer, but has since expanded into the field of retail with his wife Pat. Peter and Pat have operated retail stores for over 30 years and been Nisa members for 25 years. Their main business is an 8,000sq ft supermarket and petrol forecourt in Ilkeston, near Derby.

Peter bought his current site in 1986, a closed down Fiat dealership, and following a total knockdown and rebuild has developed the award winning store it is today. The Bellini’s have since won the Booker Prize for Retail Excellence 1998, Forecourt Retailer of the Year 2004 and Independent Retailer of the Year 2004, and in 2006 won Independent Entrepreneur of the Year, Independent Off- License of the Year and Independent Forecourt Retailer of the Year.

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Mohammad Saleem

In the space of only three-and-a-half years, Mohammad, with his wife and business partner Farhana, launched two successful Nisa flagship stores. They also developed the excellent Café Nisa concept, which was recently awarded ‘Best Food-to-Go retailer’ at the couple’s Greenwich store at the Asian Trader Awards 2007.

Mohammad has a Law degree and a background in legal practice, which he believes brings a wealth of transferable negotiating, analytical and administrative skills he can utilise in his retail business. Mohammad made the decision in 2004 to leave the legal profession and enter the independent retail arena and has not looked back since.

Mohammad is a member of the Audit Committee.

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Joginder Singh

Joginder Singh is financial director of Michael Supermarket (Blackheath) Ltd. He has been a member of Nisa since 1982 and a store owner since leaving school in 1980. He operates five retail stores sized from 1, 000 sq ft to 5,600 sq ft.

Joginder’s business consists of a team of four partners; himself, his two elder brothers and their brother-in-law. They have worked together since day one and Joginder is the youngest of the four.

Joginder is a member of the Audit Committee.

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Sucha Singh

Sucha is the managing director of Thames Cash and Carry Ltd which he opened in 1983. Since its inception, it has established itself as the leading Cash and Carry in Berkshire.

As a founder member of the Today’s Group, Sucha has served on its Board since 1987, alongside which he also sits on the Grocery Trading committee.

Sucha was born in India and predominantly educated in England. His business commenced in 1976, with the opening of his first retail shop in Slough. During the next seven years, with the support of his family, he added four more stores to his portfolio. It was at that time the need for a warehouse was felt and in 1983, he opened Thames Cash and Carry Ltd.

Sucha has over 30 years experience in the retail and wholesale sectors and is a member of Nisa- Today’s Nominations Committee.

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Jas Sunner

Jas’ family business – Michael’s Foodmarkets - has been a member of Nisa- Today’s for 28 years. He formally joined the business in July 1996 while still studying for a degree in Business Property Management at Sheffield Hallam University. When Jas entered the business it comprised two supermarkets, over the years a further five off-licenses were opened, with two later sold on. The family currently operates five stores ranging from 850 sq ft to 7,000 sq ft.

Jas has nearly 20 years experience in the independent retail business, having worked his way up from the grass roots to the management positions he holds today.

Jas is a member of Nisa-Today's Nominations Committee

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Mark Windebank

Following a varied career, which began in 1982 with Courtalds Textiles, Mark gained the opportunity to buy into his own business in 2005 and became a shareholder and managing director of Savage and Whitten – Today’s Group members for eight years - and Independent Catering Services (a newly formed and new member of Today’s Group). He has since grown the business over the last three years from £16m turnover to a combined £26m and also has extensive Board level experience, during which time he has witnessed the need for change and adaptability.

Mark was born in Leeds but moved to Northern Ireland with his parents in 1964. He returned to Yorkshire in 1978 to study at Bradford University before joining Courtalds in 1982 on a management trainee scheme, where he quickly moved into a sales role to work with M&S.

Mark is chairman of the Remuneration Committee

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Ian Black

Ian Black has worked as an accountant and management consultant with both PriceWaterhouseCoopers and KPMG, involving a range of retail and distribution clients. He also spent 20 years as an executive with Halifax PLC and HBOS PLC in the banking, insurance and investment businesses in the UK, Ireland, Continental Europe and Australia. He has extensive experience in leading start-ups, transformation programmes and operations in the positions of chief executive, finance director and chief operating officer. Ian has a first degree in Economics, an MBA from Cranfield Business School and is a fellowof both the Chartered Accountants and Banking Institutes. He is also a trustee and chairman of SCOPE, a pension fund trustee and a University College Governor.

Ian is chairman of Nisa-Today’s Audit Committee and is deputy chairman of the Nominations Committee. Ian is also a member of the Remuneration Committee

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John Haigh

John is Nisa-Today’s first in-house company secretary & solicitor. He is a Barrister and graduate MBA with 30 years experience in corporate law, finance and HR. In his role, he acts as the company secretary to the Board of Nisa-Today’s (Holdings) Limited and solicitor and counsel to the company, providing advice to the Board and executives.

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