The appointments come with less than a month to go before Godfrey’s new company lists on the London Stock Exchange and the Social Stock Exchange.
Howarth is joined by six other individuals, with diverse backgrounds in the financial services industry, including journalist and award-winning blogger, Iona Bain, and James Sullivan, director and senior fund manager of Coram Asset Management.
Peter Parry, policy director of the UK Shareholders’ Association, former high net worth private banker Lydia Kan and central banking and public investment thinktank director Pooma Kimis are also slated to join.
Rounding out the initial membership is independent investment and governance pension specialist Julius Pursaill who holds roles on the boards of RBS, Royal London and Prudential.
The initial members of the committee will organise a nomination process, open to all shareholders, to appoint a further six new members.
The shareholders’ committee was set-up to provide additional and meaningful accountability of chief executive Godfrey and the board to shareholders.
As such, members are entitled to ask the board for information and raise issues or concerns on important topics to shareholders. They will also be consulted on nominations to the board and any executive remuneration proposals.
Additionally, they will be responsible for writing a report to be included in the Annual Report & Accounts, which includes an assessment of the quality of the board’s and Godfrey’s responses to issues or concerns raised during the year.
New chair Howarth said: “I am delighted to play a part in the evolution of The People’s Trust. The People’s Trust has an innovative model that sits outside the conventional short-term drivers in the investment industry. I look forward to working with the fellow members of the Shareholders Committee to ensure The People’s Trust delivers on its promise and potential.”
