directors and advisers

Directors Information

John Byfield - 07.11.1951 (Chairman)

Founded own solicitors practice in 1980 which grew over a 20 year period to become a substantial regional practice specialising in commercial and sports law. John formed Essentially Group in 2001 and listed to company on OFEX in 2002 and then on AIM in 2006. He has extensive experience of Formula 1 going back to 1989 including team and driver management, sponsorship and marketing.

Bart Campbell -30.12.1970 (CEO)

Founded GSM in 1999 and GSM World in 2001 after completing a masters degree in Law and being admitted to the bar as a barrister and solicitor to the High Court of New Zealand. Bart was also a founder shareholder of Accelerate. He became CEO of Essentially in November 2006. He has a Masters in Commercial Law (Hons).

Dwight Mighty – 22.10.1960 (COO)

Dwight was appointed CFO in February 2007 and became COO on 1st May 2008. He has over 20 years experience with growing businesses. Previous positions include business development director at Gresham Trust and a director of Corporate Synergy. He is an Associate of the Institute of Bankers and a Henley MBA.

Tim Berg - 03.04.1963 (CFO)

Tim was appointed CFO on 1st May 2008. He trained with Robson Rhodes in the 1980s, specialising in unit and investment trusts. After a period of time with Gartmore Private Capital, he joined Baker Tilly in their media corporate finance team in 1996. He spent the next 9 years there working with a number of media and management clients in the areas of childrens’ properties, publishing, music recording, and intellectual property, and was invited to join the advisory panel of a UK/US media based investment fund. In May 2005 he left to work with entrepreneurial private media companies providing finance director and strategic services. He joined Accounts 8 Limited in 2006, which was subsequently acquired by the Essentially Group.

Matthew Vandrau - 22.07.1969 (New Business Director)

Having completed his degree at Wits University in Johannesburg Matthew played professional cricket for Transvaal and Derbyshire for 6 years. In 1998 he joined Sports and Outdoor Media were he headed up the develpment and growth of the football division. In 2000 he was a founding partner and Managing Director of Frontiers Group which he helped grow organically into a major UK sponsorship business with a particular strength in rights management, consulting and events. In 2007 Matthew oversaw the sale of Frontiers Group to the Essentially Group.

James Butterfield -17.05.1945 (Non-Executive Director)

James joined 3i plc in 1969 and over a ten year period moved up to becoming a local director and area manager. After leaving 3i plc, he has, for the last 25 years, specialised in advising small and medium sized companies in a range of disciplines, ranging from stock market listings, through mergers and acquisitions, fund raising and corporate recovery work.

Richard Battersby – 26.11.1942 (Non-Executive Director)

Richard has worked for 30 years in the UK venture capital industry. During this time he has been chairman or director of several listed companies. On his departure from Henlys Group plc as a director in 1992, the company had seen growth in turnover from £60 million to £500 million during his tenure. He became a director of Capital for Companies VCT plc in 1996 and chairman of Rensburg Aim VCT plc in 2001. On the merger of these two companies in 2005 he became a director of the enlarged Rensburg Aim VCT plc. Richard is a fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales and is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants.

Company advisers

Bankers

Allied Irish Bank
9/10 Angel Court
London  EC2R 7AB
Corporate Advisers
Cenkos Securities plc
6.7.8 Tokenhouse Yard
London EC2R 7AS

Tel: 020 7397 8927

Stockbrokers

Cenkos Securities plc
6.7.8 Tokenhouse Yard
London EC2R 7AS

Tel: 020 7397 8927

Auditors

Grant Thornton UK LLP
8, West Walk
Leicester, LE1 7NH

Tel: +44(0) 116 247 1234

Law Firms

Carey Olsen
47 The Esplanade
St Helier
Jersey
JE1 OBD

Tel: +44(0) 1534 888900
www.careyolsen.com

Couchman Harrington
20-22 Bedford Row
London
WC1R 4EB

Tel: +44(0) 2076119660
www.couchmanharrington.com