The board establishes the direction of corporate activity and acts as overseer of its operations. It is involved in all questions concerning corporate well-being.

Mr Davidson has extensive experience in banking, media and telecommunications. He is a director of the Wireless Group plc and was previously vice-chairman of Investment Banking and global head of technology, media and telecommunications at West LB Panmure. He is a former chief executive of Telewest Communications plc and chairman of sports and entertainment group ENIC plc.

Keith is a chartered accountant. He was formerly group treasurer of Mirror Group Newspapers and finance director of Bristol United Press plc and News and Communications plc, both regional newspaper publishers. Latterly, he was finance director of The Wireless Group plc, talkSPORT and 16 local music stations.

Mr Haines joined the board in October
1996 and was executive chairman until December 2001. He was previously chief executive of the Jockey Club.