24 June 2004 - Appointment of new non-executive directors for Remploy
Ian Harley and Graham Corbett CBE have been appointed as Non-Executive Directors of Remploy, Britain’s largest employer of disabled people.
Announcing the appointment, Andrew Smith, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said:
“I am delighted Ian Harley and Graham Corbett will be joining the Remploy Board. It is a real vote of confidence in the Company that we have been able to attract such high calibre individuals to work with Remploy.”
Maria Eagle, Minister for Disabled People, said of the appointments:
“Ian Harley and Graham Corbett will bring a wealth of experience to the Company, both in terms of their successful business careers and their personal commitment to supporting disabled people.”
Notes for editors
- Remploy Ltd is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions. It receives a grant-in-aid each year in exchange for delivering a range of employment opportunities for around 10,000 disabled people under the Government’s WORKSTEP programme. Remploy delivers this support by operating as a commercial organisation with around 80 business sites and also by providing support to disabled people working with other employers through its Interwork Scheme.
- Remploy’s modernisation strategy, Remploy 21, has seen the Company refocus its efforts from 36 disparate low value business areas to 10 businesses, which more closely mirror growth areas of the UK economy. The Company has a large presence in the school furniture business, it supplies clothing for the armed forces, and it has an automotive business, which supplies companies such as Honda, Ford and Land Rover. In addition Remploy has more recently expanded its portfolio to include managed services on customer sites including CCTV or call centre operations.
- Ian Harley is a former Chief Executive of Abbey National. He started his career at Touche Ross & Co before spending 25 years at Abbey National. He spent 9 years on the Abbey National Board; 5 as Finance Director and 4 as Chief Executive. He is a Non-Executive Director at Rentokil Initial plc and British Energy plc, where he chairs the Audit committees, a role he will also undertake at Remploy. Ian Harley is also a Vice President of the National Deaf Children’s Society and Governor of the Court of the Whitgift Foundation.
- Graham Corbett CBE has recently stepped down as Chairman of the Postal Services Commission (Postcomm) (2000 to 2004), after working as Deputy Chairman of the Competition Commission (formerly Monopolies and Mergers Commission) (1997 to 2000). Prior to this, Graham Corbett was a Board member and Chief Financial Officer of Eurotunnel. From 1975 to 1987 he was the Senior Partner of Peat, Marwick’s Continental European Firm based in Paris. He was awarded a CBE in 1994 for services to Transport. He is currently Chairman of Trustees for Ricability, a charity researching goods and services for disabled consumers. He is himself a wheelchair user.
- The appointment of Remploy Non-Executive Directors is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. The recruitment and selection process was in accordance with the OCPA (Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments) Code of Practice. Ian Harley and Graham Corbett do not hold any other ministerial public appointments.
- The appointments as Non-Executive Directors are for an initial 3-year period and attract remuneration of £7,500 per annum.
- All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity to be made public. Ian Harley and Graham Corbett have declared that they do not undertake any political activity.
For more information contact Nick Turton on: 020 7238 0756
Press office: 020 7238 0866
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Public enquiries: 020 7712 2171