NATS-Annual-Report-2015

Annual Report and Accounts 2015 | NATS Holdings Limited
Governance 52
Governance report
(continued)
The roles of the Chairman, Chief Executive
Officer and executive management
The Chairman of the NATS group is responsible for the
leadership of the Board and for its governance. He has no
day-to-day involvement in the running of the group. Dayto-day
management of the NATS group is the responsibility
of the Chief Executive Officer, Martin Rolfe, supported by
the NATS executive team. The NATS executive team is
responsible for delivering NATS’ overall strategy, which
currently focuses on defending and growing the business
whilst improving the organisation’s capabilities.
To achieve these strategic priorities the executive team
is structured as follows:
> Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director,
Operations;
> Finance Director;
> Safety Director;
> Managing Director, Services;
> HR Director;
> Communications Director; and
> General Counsel and Company Secretary.
The responsibilities of the Board
The Board has adopted a schedule of matters reserved for
its decision and has put in place arrangements for financial
delegations to ensure that it retains overall control of
the business. Matters reserved for the Board include the
monitoring of NATS’ safety performance, appointments
to the NATS executive team, and issues with political,
regulatory or public relations implications.
In addition to the schedule of matters reserved to the
Board, specific matters are reserved for Partnership
directors, AG directors and the LHRA director.
These include the following:
Partnership and AG directors
> adoption of the business plan;
> entry into significant debts, charges or contingent
liabilities;
> major agreements outside the ordinary course of
business;
> significant litigation proceedings; and
> external investments, and acquisition and disposal
of material assets.
LHRA director
> acquisition or disposal of any asset representing more
than 10% of the total assets of the business;
> any aspects of the business plan which could adversely
affect NERL’s service to UK airports; and
> disposal of NATS Services shares by NATS.
Access to legal and professional advice
All directors have access to the advice and services
of the General Counsel and Company Secretary, Richard
Churchill-Coleman, who acts as Secretary to the Board.
If necessary, in furtherance of their duties, directors
may take independent professional advice at the
group’s expense.
Governance