The Board of Cable&Wireless Worldwide Group currently comprises a Chairman,
three Non-Executive Directors and two Executive Directors, with a clear
separation of the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive to ensure an appropriate
balance of power and authority.
The full Board manages overall control of Group affairs, including responsibility
for:
- Commercial strategy
- Approval of financial statements
- Major acquisitions and disposals
- Authority levels for expenditure
- Treasury and risk management policies
- Succession plans for senior executives
All Directors are equally accountable under the law for the proper stewardship of
the Group's affairs are required to act in the best long-term interest of
shareholders, take account of the wider community of interests represented by
employees, customers and suppliers and that social, environmental and ethical
issues are fully integrated into the Group's risk assessment processes.
We believe that all our Non-Executive Directors are independent of management and
free from any business or other relationship that could materially interfere
with the exercise of their independent judgement. John Barton is the recognised
senior independent Non-Executive Director to whom any concerns can be conveyed.
We also have procedures in place to allow Directors to seek both independent
professional advice, at the Company's expense, and the advice and services of
the Company Secretary in order to fulfil their duties.
The Non-Executive Directors also play a leading role in corporate accountability
and governance through their membership of the Remuneration Committee, the
Nomination Committee and the Audit Committee.