Mike Ashley
Biography
Michael retired as the Partner and the Head of Quality and Risk Management of KPMG Europe LLP in September 2013, having spent about 35 years with the firm and its predecessor firm, Peat Marwick. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and an Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors.
He currently serves as a Non Executive on the Cabinet Office Board and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. He was appointed a member of the UK Endorsement Board in April 2021. He is a trustee of The Scout Association and the Charities Aid Foundation.
Additional Information and Previous Roles
Michael was a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of Barclays PLC until 2023.
He was also Chair of the Government Internal Audit Agency from 2014 to September 2018 and served as a member of the Treasury’s Audit Committee from 2009 to 2015.
He was a member of the UK Accounting Standards Board from 2004 to 2010 and the Technical Expert Group of the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group from 2005 to 2016 (Vice-Chair from 2010).
He was a Board member of the Charity Commission from 2014 to 2020, chairing the Audit and Risk Committee 2014 – 2018, and the Policy and Guidance Committee 2019 - 2020. He was a member of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants until 2021.
Non-Executive Board Member
Non-Executive Board Members are appointed on merit, reflecting ability and experience, for a fixed term, usually three years. They will exercise their role through influence and advice, supporting as well as challenging the Executive. They will advise on the clarity of strategic direction, performance, operational issues and the effective management of the Department. These responsibilities should be conducted both in and outside of Board meetings - the Executive should invite and involve the Non-Executives in key areas to ensure critical challenge and support.
Non-Executives Board Members’ views on performance will be reported by the Lead Non-Executive Board Member in the Department’s Annual Report. Non-Executives’ views will also be fed back to the Prime Minister and the Government Lead Non-Executive through the Non-Executive Board Members’ Network.
Non-Executive Board Members may be involved in the process for recruiting and appraising senior executives, and succession planning.