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Board Director and Non-Executive Director
Board appointment providing independent oversight of ABP’s infrastructure investments, operational decarbonization, safety and statutory maritime governance across 21 UK ports. London-headquartered with remote flexibility and 15–20% travel. Estimated annual compensation is GBP 75,000–85,000 including committee service. Confidential retained search managed exclusively by TalentBridge Executive Search.
TalentBridge Executive Search — Retained Executive Mandate
Board Appointment: Non-Executive Director (Infrastructure & Operational Sustainability)
Confidentiality Notice: This document contains strictly confidential executive-search information and is intended exclusively for the selected executive recipient. It is provided solely for evaluating this executive mandate and must not be copied, reproduced, distributed, forwarded, published, or disclosed to any third party without prior written authorization from TalentBridge Executive Search.
Search & Application Context: This is a confidential retained executive search mandate and is not being presented as a publicly advertised vacancy on the company website. All expressions of interest, inquiries, and candidate submissions are managed exclusively through TalentBridge Executive Search's retained search channel.
Corporate Overview
Associated British Ports (ABP) is the UK’s leading port operator, handling approximately one-quarter of the nation's sea-borne trade. The enterprise manages extensive commercial terminals, ro-ro facilities, container handling networks, and major logistics real estate estates, driving vital supply chain connectivity across the British Isles.
Scale & Footprint: Employs over 2,500 people across multiple regional hubs, generating annual revenues in excess of GBP 750 million across 21 strategic ports including Southampton, Humber ports, and South Wales.
Position & Scope
- Position: Non-Executive Board Director
- Location: London HQ / Regional Port Visits
- Level: Board of Directors (NED)
- Function: Board Governance & Advisory
- Scope: United Kingdom Enterprise
- Reporting Line: Chairman of the Board
Executive Mandate
The Non-Executive Director will provide independent oversight, strategic governance, and expert counsel to the Board on major capital expenditure programs, port infrastructure development, operational decarbonization initiatives, and stakeholder relations with statutory bodies and government agencies.
Why the Position Exists (Business Rationale)
The appointment follows a strategic shift in the group's capital allocation toward large-scale green energy infrastructure, shore power integration, and multi-modal freight capacity expansion. As ABP accelerates its multi-million-pound transition toward net-zero port operations while maintaining uninterrupted commercial cargo throughput, the Board is strengthening its engineering and statutory maritime governance capabilities to ensure rigorous oversight of complex long-term infrastructure investments.
Strategic Priorities
- Capital Governance: Provide independent board-level governance over the multi-year capital expenditure program dedicated to port decarbonization and green energy hubs.
- Risk Assessment: Evaluate and guide commercial risk assessments for large-scale maritime engineering and terminal expansion projects across the 21-port network.
- Operational Compliance: Oversee operational resilience, health, safety, and environmental (HS&E) compliance across diverse marine and landside assets.
- Stakeholder Alignment: Strengthen stakeholder engagement frameworks involving statutory authorities, local communities, maritime regulators, and commercial tenants.
- Asset Strategy: Advise the executive leadership team on long-term asset lifecycle management and asset-backed logistics growth strategies.
Key Responsibilities
- Participate actively in quarterly Board meetings and serve on the Board Safety, Environment & Sustainability Committee.
- Review and challenge executive proposals regarding capital allocation, major infrastructure investments, and port modernization plans.
- Monitor operational performance against key strategic benchmarks, including vessel turnaround times, asset utilization, and carbon reduction milestones.
- Maintain constructive dialogue with key external stakeholders, including port regulators, local authorities, and trade associations.
- Mentor senior operational leadership on engineering standards, contract risk mitigation, and project delivery governance.
Leadership Scope & Key Stakeholders
- Organizational Scope: Board-level governance across the entire UK enterprise.
- Matrix Influence: Direct interaction with the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Director of Property, and Head of Marine Operations.
- Committee Involvement: Member of Board Safety, Environment & Sustainability Committee; optional participation in Remuneration or Audit Committees.
- Key Stakeholders: Chairman of the Board, CEO, CFO, COO, Government Regulators, Statutory Harbor Authorities, and Major Commercial Tenants.
Required Experience
- Essential: 15–20+ years senior executive leadership in ports, maritime infrastructure, or heavy logistics; Chartered Engineer (CEng) status or technical governance background; Board-level experience managing large capital projects and statutory compliance; deep knowledge of maritime regulations and marine safety management systems.
- Preferred: Prior non-executive director or trustee service within transport, infrastructure, or charitable maritime trusts; direct experience steering industrial decarbonization initiatives within heavy assets.
Leadership Expectations & Location
Behaviors: Exemplary strategic judgment, uncompromising commitment to safety, strong commercial acumen, and a collaborative engagement style within a unitary board structure.
Location & Travel: United Kingdom (London-headquartered with remote flexibility). Approximately 15% to 20% travel for scheduled Board meetings and site visits across regional port facilities.
Compensation & Remuneration Package
Base Fees: GBP 65,000 per annum for standard Board duties, plus committee membership fees.
Total Estimated Compensation: GBP 75,000 to GBP 85,000 per annum inclusive of committee service.
First 12 to 18 Months & Success Measures
- Induction: Complete a comprehensive induction across major ABP port hubs to understand regional operational profiles and capital projects.
- Decarbonization: Contribute technical and strategic oversight to the approval and initial phase execution of net-zero terminal infrastructure investments.
- Success Metrics: Constructive challenge during Board deliberations; successful advancement of decarbonization milestones without commercial productivity loss; enhanced governance oversight regarding asset integrity.
Executive Challenge
Balancing the ambitious capital demands of long-term green infrastructure investments with the immediate commercial imperative of maintaining seamless, high-volume cargo operations across diverse regional ports under stringent regulatory scrutiny.
Responsibilities
- Provide independent oversight, strategic governance, and expert counsel on capital expenditure, port infrastructure, operational decarbonization, and statutory and government stakeholder relations.
- Provide board-level governance over the multi-year capital expenditure program dedicated to port decarbonization and green energy hubs.
- Evaluate and guide commercial risk assessments for maritime engineering and terminal expansion projects across the 21-port network.
- Oversee operational resilience and health, safety, and environmental compliance across marine and landside assets.
- Strengthen engagement with statutory authorities, local communities, maritime regulators, and commercial tenants.
- Advise executive leadership on long-term asset lifecycle management and asset-backed logistics growth strategies.
- Participate actively in quarterly Board meetings and serve on the Board Safety, Environment & Sustainability Committee.
- Review and challenge executive proposals on capital allocation, infrastructure investments, and port modernization.
- Monitor vessel turnaround times, asset utilization, carbon reduction milestones, and other strategic performance benchmarks.
- Maintain constructive dialogue with port regulators, local authorities, and trade associations.
- Mentor senior operational leadership on engineering standards, contract risk mitigation, and project delivery governance.
- Complete a comprehensive induction across major ABP port hubs.
- Contribute technical and strategic oversight to approval and initial execution of net-zero terminal infrastructure investments.
Requirements
- 15–20+ years of senior executive leadership in ports, maritime infrastructure, or heavy logistics.
- Board-level experience managing large capital projects and statutory compliance.
- Deep knowledge of maritime regulations and marine safety management systems.
- Prior non-executive director or trustee service within transport, infrastructure, or charitable maritime trusts preferred.
- Direct experience steering industrial decarbonization initiatives within heavy assets preferred.
- Approximately 15% to 20% travel for scheduled Board meetings and regional port site visits.
Qualifications
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) status or technical governance background.
Benefits
- Remote flexibility
- Committee membership fees in addition to base Board fees