Garner Plc, created as the result of a reverse takeover of a listed plc in 1998 by Garner International, is the specialist search firm founded by Andrew Garner, a former Global CEO of Boyden World Corporation. Building on substantial growth over recent years, the Board of Garner Plc completed the acquisition of the long established search brand Norman Broadbent in December 2008 to provide the Plc with a global footprint. The business now trades under the umbrella brand of Norman Broadbent as a wholly owned subsidiary of Garner Plc, with the legacy success of Garner International continued within Norman Broadbent under the Garner HR brand. As a leading provider of executive search, interim management and leadership consultancy services, Norman Broadbent operates at the very senior end of leadership and talent identification at board level.
Garner Plc is one of the largest providers of board level executive search services in the UK with a team of more than 35 consultants within Europe, Middle East and the Americas. In this regard, the acquisition has established Norman Broadbent as one of the top three search firms within the UK.
Information on this website was last updated on 25th June 2009.
Annual and Interim Reports
As a fully listed business with a board of executives and non executives that cover all areas of corporate governance and Corporate Responsibility, all of the financials of the business are reported according to full AIM regulations. You can find Garner Plc's recent Annual and Interim reports here, including the Chairman's Statements as well as the full text of each report:
- Half Year Report 30 June 2009
- Report and Financial Statements 2008
- Half Year Report 30 June 2008
- Report and Financial Statements 2007
- Half Year Report 30 June 2007
- Report and Financial Statements 2006
- Half Year report 30 June 2006
- Report and Financial statements 2005
Information on this website has been disclosed pursuant to Rule 26 of the AIM Rules for Companies.
The Board comprises two Directors with executive functions and three Non-executive Directors. The Company holds regular board meetings throughout the year at which reports relating to the Group's operations, together with financial reports, are considered. The Board is responsible for formulating, reviewing and approving the Group's strategy, budgets, major items of capital expenditure and acquisitions.
As an AIM company, the Company is not obliged to, and does not comply fully, with the corporate governance regime for listed companies in the UK, as set out in Combined Code. The Company complies with the Combined Code, as far as is practicable and appropriate for a public company of its size and nature.
The Directors have established remuneration, audit and AIM compliance committees comprising the Non-executive Directors.
Board Members
Executive Chairman Andrew Garner
Group Managing Director Sue O'Brien
Non-executive Director John Bartle CBE
Non-executive Director Richard Robinson
Non-executive Director Bruce Lakefield
Board attendees
Director of Finance Ben Felton
Secretary to the Board Jan Cameron
Garner Plc Board of Directors
Executive Chairman - Andrew Garner
Born in 1944, Andrew Garner leads the Board of Garner Plc. He is Executive Chairman of subsidiaries Norman Broadbent, acquired in 2008 and Garner International, established in 2007. He has had a long and distinguished career in executive search since 1983. He is a former Chairman and Chief Executive of Boyden World Corporation, one of the world's leading search firms, which he led for seven years. Andrew is an adviser to a number of FTSE Boards and he is actively involved in the Board and Non Executive practices of both operating subsidiaries of the Plc. He is an author and international commentator on career management. He has been a Senior Honorary Visiting fellow at Manchester Business School for 14 years and served on its Board. He also served on the Board of the London Philharmonic Orchestra for more than 10 years and is a non-executive director of Haynes Publishing Group Plc.
Group Managing Director - Sue O'Brien
Born in 1965, Sue O'Brien is Group Managing Director of Garner Plc, and CEO of the Norman Broadbent brand which encompasses the previously branded business Garner International, that now operates as Garner HR. Sue was previously MD of Garner International. She is actively involved in executive search, HR coaching and consultancy. Before her career in executive search, she held senior management positions in the retail sector, including Sainsbury's and the Kingswood Group, where she was Managing Director.
Senior Non-executive Director - John Bartle CBE
Born in 1944, John has served on the Garner Plc Board since 2000 and was appointed Chairman in 2003. He stepped down as Chairman in December 2008 and continues as a Senior Non-executive Director. Previously, John worked on the client side at Cadbury Schweppes before starting his advertising career as planning director and founding partner of TBWA London. In 1982 he left to co-found Bartle Bogle Hegarty, as joint Chief Executive. He retired from BBH in 1999 and now holds a number of advisory and Non-executive roles with organisations including Barnardo's, Guardian Media Group Plc, where he is acting Chairman, i-Level and Dare. In June 2003, John was awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for his services to advertising, charity and education.
Non-executive Director - Richard Robinson
Born in 1948, Richard has served on the Garner Plc Board as Company Secretary on behalf of Anderson Barrowcliff Chartered Accountants, and has been a Non-executive Director since 1998. Richard is the Senior Partner at Anderson Barrowcliff Chartered Accountants, heading up the Corporate Finance team. He specialises in acquisitions, sales, mergers, capital reconstructions and international fund raising. Richard has also served on the boards of BDMC Ltd, Cornpath Ltd and Dukedom Ltd. Richard is a past president of the UK 200 Group and Deputy Chairman of The East India Club in London.
Non-executive Director - Bruce Lakefield
Born in 1944, Bruce has served on the Garner Plc Board since 2000. Previous career highlights include his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer of US Airways Group and US Airways from April 2004 until completion of the merger and he has served as a Director of US Airways Group and US Airways since 2003. Since the merger, Bruce has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of US Airways Group, US Airways, America West Holdings and AWA. Bruce also served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lehman Brothers International from 1995 until 1999, as well as being a Senior Advisor to the Investment Policy Committee of HGK Asset Management from 2000 until April 2004. He is also a Director of Magic Media, Inc.
In addition to the Board, the company operates an Audit Committee, a Remuneration Committee and an AIM Compliance Committee.
The Audit Committee consists of Richard Robinson as chairman, Bruce Lakefield and John Bartle. The Audit Committee has primary responsibility for monitoring the quality of internal controls and ensuring the financial performance of the PLC is properly measured and reported on. It also reviews reports from the company's auditors relating to the company's accounting and internal controls, operating at all times to protect the interests of shareholders.
The Remuneration Committee is chaired by John Bartle. The other members are Bruce Lakefield, Richard Robinson and Jan Cameron as Secretary. The committee determines overall remuneration policy, including any share related benefits and the terms and conditions of the executive directors.
The AIM Compliance Committee consists of Richard Robinson as chairman, Bruce Lakefield and John Bartle. It meets twice a year and is responsible for ensuring the company's obligations under the AIM Rules are discharged by the Board.
| Country of incorporation: | UK |
| Main country of operation: | England |
| Status: | AIM |
| Index: | FTSE AIM All Share |
| Sector: | Support Services |
| Activities: | Executive Search, Executive Coaching and Talent Development |
| As at 8th February 2010 shares in issue: |
75,138,312 ordinary shares of 1p each There are no shares held in Treasury There are no restrictions on the transfer on any of the Company's AIM securities |
As at 8th February 2010 the following interests of shareholders in excess of 3% have been notified to the Company:
| Shareholder | Ordinary Shares held | % of Ordinary Shares |
| A C Garner | 15,571,707 | 20.72 |
| John Bartle | 8,810,487 | 11.73 |
| R G Robinson | 4,967,790* | 6.61 |
| C Auld | 5,000,000 | 6.65 |
| Productive Nominees | 4,500,000 | 5.99 |
| J Sharma | 3,797,000 | 5.05 |
| B Lakefield | 2,436,667 | 3.24 |
* includes a non-beneficial interest of 199,375 shares.
| As at 8th February 2010 the percentage of AIM securities that are not in public hands: | 46.80% |
Shareholder Documents
- Aim Admission document dated 7th November 2008
- Trading Update November 09
- Articles of Association 2 December 2008
- Memorandum & Articles of Association
- Shareholder Circular - June 2006
News
The latest Garner news can be found on their website.
Nominated Advisor & Broker
Merchant John East Securities Limited
10 Finsbury Square
London
EC2A 1AD
Registrars
Capita Registrars
Northern House
Wood some Park
Fenay Bridge
Huddersfield
HD8 0LA
Solicitors
Mayer Brown International LLP
201 Bishopsgate
London
EC2M 3AF
Auditors
FW Stephens
3rd Floor
24 Chiswell Street
London
EC1Y 4YX