The Board

John Ibbett : Chairman and Chief Executive

John is responsible for setting and implementing the overall direction, vision and strategy of the Group. He chairs the Group Board and the boards of companies in all four subsidiary trading divisions.

A graduate in agricultural marketing and business administration from Harper Adams Agricultural College, John represents the third generation of the Ibbett family’s ownership and management of the Bedfordia Group. He has worked for the Group since 1983 and has been Chief Executive since 1995. As well as being a passionate and highly regarded expert in agriculture and property, John’s enthusiasm for a diversity of commercial activity is clear in the variety of the Group’s operations. It is John’s combination of commercial and environmental vision that has been fundamental to the Group expansion into the eco-technology sector.

Roger Winter BCom, FCA : Group Finance Director

Roger is responsible for overall Group financial systems, operations and controls including monthly management reporting, treasury and cash management, statutory accounts, budgeting and forecasting. Roger also has management responsibility for the Group’s central IT function which supports 200+ IT users within the Group.

Roger is an experienced Chartered Accountant, having qualified in 1971 with Pricewaterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers). He has 30 years of board level experience in both private and quoted companies, operating in a variety of sectors, including manufacturing, service and software development.

Yolanda Ibbett BSc Hons : Central Services Director

Yolanda is instrumental in developing the strategic direction of the Group and upholding and maintaining its Vision and Values. She also oversees the Group’s central HR, marketing and archiving functions, ensuring they provide an efficient and valuable service to the trading operations.

Although originally from a farming background, Yolanda’s early career was in banking where she specialised in corporate finance and especially automotive retailing. She also spent time as a tutor in the bank’s Management Training School where she specialised in personal and management development. She has a BSc Honours degree in finance from the University of Manchester.

Mark Thompson : Non-Executive Director and Company Secretary

Mark is a solicitor with Borneo Linnells LLP in Bedford, where he heads up the commercial department specialising in company, commercial and employment law matters. The Group has a long-standing business relationship with  Borneo Linnells stretching back over more than 50 years, As well as attending the monthly Group Board meetings in his role as Non-Executive Director and Company Secretary, Mark also advises the Group in all areas of company and employment law such as acquisitions, trademark legislation and employment contracts.

Mike Betts : Non Executive Director

Mike Betts joined the Bedfordia Group plc board as a Non-Executive Director in May 2007. Mike is the CEO of Motability Operations, the UK’s largest vehicle leasing company with over 450,000 vehicles. He is responsible for driving the performance of all aspects of the business. He also leads the management of the various stakeholder relationships. Mike’s tenure has been characterised by him as the author and driving force of the change programmes that have created what is considered by all stakeholders a truly commercial and customer focussed business culture. Mike is a member of the Employers’ Forum on Disability President’s Group. Prior to joining Motability Operations, Mike spent ten years with Dial Contracts Limited, the last three as Managing Director. He successfully led the UK element of the sale of Dial to ABN AMRO Lease Holdings and was then responsible for overseeing the subsequent merger. Prior to that Mike spent nine years with Thorn EMI where he was latterly Operations Director of Thorn EMI Business Communications.