Our Board

Appointed Chair of the Board with effect from 8 July 2024, Ken is an experienced business leader, has held a number of senior executive and non-executive positions at UK listed firms, across multiple sectors including retail, manufacturing, construction, software and business services. Ken is currently Non-executive Chair at Cirata PLC, Senior Independent Director at Rockwood Strategic plc, and Deputy Chair of Rainier Developments Limited. Previously, he was the Non-executive Chair of Biffa plc and RPS Group plc, Senior Independent Director at Vertu Motors plc and a Nonexecutive Director at Blue Prism plc.

Justin was appointed to the Board as Chief Executive Officer in January 2024. He has over 30 years’ experience in hospitality and consumer-facing businesses, having spent 12 years at Merlin Entertainments, most recently as Chief Strategy Officer and, prior to that, in a variety of operational leadership roles. Justin’s combination of operational and strategic experience in multi-site leisure businesses equips him to lead Marston’s through the next phase of its development. Justin was a Non-executive Director of Carlsberg Marston’s Ltd until July 2024.

Hayleigh was appointed Chief Financial Officer in October 2021, having previously been Director of Group Finance, and held a number of senior roles previously at Marston’s. Hayleigh is a qualified Chartered Management Accountant and has strong operational and commercial credentials, as well as extensive knowledge of both Marston’s and the wider pub and brewing sector. As well as the finance and treasury functions, Hayleigh also leads the IT and Procurement functions and chairs the Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Taskforce helping to shape the Company’s D&I strategy. Hayleigh is also a member of the WiHTL & Diversity in Retail CFO Board.

Octavia has extensive experience in both executive and non-executive roles in retail and multisite companies. Octavia is currently Senior Independent Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee at Crest Nicholson Holdings plc and Currys plc, and Chair of Banner Group Limited. She was formerly Senior Independent Director at Card Factory PLC, Non-executive Director of John Menzies PLC and Executive and Non-executive Chair of Spicers Office Team Group Ltd. Octavia’s past experience also includes Chief Executive Officer, and then Chair, at LighterLife UK Limited. She was appointed Managing Director at Crew Clothing Co Ltd before being appointed Chief Executive at OKA Direct Limited, furthering her retail and operational expertise.

Rachel brings a wealth of recent and relevant financial, consumer, retail and executive plc leadership experience to the Board. Rachel is currently Non-executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee at Ocado Group Plc, and Non-executive Director, Chair of the Customer Committee and Audit Chair Designate at Cash Access UK Ltd. She was formerly Non- executive Director at Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service and Non-executive Director at Dunelm plc. Rachel has previously served as the Chief Executive Officer at Ted Baker, until 2023, and was Chief Financial Officer of multiple listed companies including Ted Baker, Debenhams and Domino’s Pizza Group. Prior to that she was a Finance Director at Vodafone and the Finance & Strategy Director of John Lewis.

Bridget is currently UK General Manager at Snap Inc having previously held the role of Managing Director - Commercial at BT Group as well as Managing Director (North) at J Sainsbury PLC. She has held senior positions, spanning a wide range of disciplines including sales, operations, marketing, supply chain and digital, within retail corporates. Previously, as Director of Stores, Online and Omnichannel at O2, she led the re-engineering of the store experience, development of an industry-leading digital experience and the omnichannel transformation. Bridget is also Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the Board Governors at Manchester Metropolitan University. As our designated Non-executive Director responsible for workforce engagement.

Sir Nick was Chief Executive Officer of Merlin Entertainments until 2022. He has over 30 years’ experience in the leisure sector, having started his career in consumer goods marketing, with Nestlé Rowntree and then with Reckitt Benckiser plc. He went on to hold senior positions within The Tussauds Group (Pearson PLC), prior to becoming Managing Director of Vardon Attractions and a Main Board Director of Vardon plc. In 1999, Nick led the management buyout of Vardon Attractions to form Merlin Entertainments, driving the company’s dynamic growth strategy which sees it today as European market leader and the world’s second largest location-based entertainment company. Sir Nick is also Non-executive Chair at Bath Rugby and at the NEC Group and is a Senior Advisor to Blackstone. He was previously Chair and Board member of UK Hospitality, the trade body representing the UK’s hospitality and tourism industry.

Appointed as General Counsel and Company Secretary on 1 February 2022, having previously been the group’s legal counsel since joining the company in 2013. Bethan is a qualified solicitor who has worked in both private practice and in-house, with a background in M&A, commercial, IP and contractual and risk management matters. She played a key role in the creation of the partnership with Carlsberg UK and the innovative transaction with SA Brain & Co to operate a large portfolio of Welsh pubs.