Corporate governance report Composition, succession and evaluation continued Before I formally joined I could not be happier with the the Board I met with all induction that was organised for me. Board members and Dawn Durrant, the Company Secretary, My impression of the Dunelm culture received a briefing on regulatory is that it is very straightforward, matters and my duties as a director of honest and inclusive. Colleagues a UK plc,andhad access to prior Board speak up and voice their opinion papers and other relevant information. openly, and do not seem to be restricted by their managers. So far After this, my introduction to Dunelm I have experienced a business with Arja Taaveniku took place over a number of weeks, very few internal politics and a far totalling more than 25 hours. Guided greater focus on problem-solving and Non-Executive by Dawn, I met 15 colleagues in online increasing competitiveness. meetings, including the Executive Director Board and some of their direct reports Dunelm has a great team of and spanning a cross-section of teams – colleagues that is future-proofing induction People, Finance, Commercial and Retail the Company: they are modernising operations. Before my appointment products, their online proposition and in the spring when restrictions and stores and I believe they are On joining the Group, Arja were lifted I visited six Dunelm stores well set for growing the business. was offered a comprehensive in Greenford, Croydon, Collier’s I look forward to supporting the induction programme, meeting Wood, Beckton, Leicester and Truro Dunelm Board through my business all of the Board and Executive and personally bought some spring development, commercial and buying Board, and other members of cushions and throws online. background, and my experience in senior management across various developing environmental, social and teams. Following the relaxation of The Dunelm Chairman, Andy, followed governance (ESG) practices.” government restrictions, Arja also up continuously with me to check how visited a number of Dunelm stores my induction was going and to see and reflects on her induction. if there was anything else I needed: We also take into account the corporate governance Executive Board succession guidance on Chairman and Non-Executive Director tenure; For some years, the Board has regularly reviewed the for reference their tenure and re-election cycle is summarised composition and succession plans in place for members in the table on page 129. Our updates on recent and planned of the Executive Board and their direct reports. During the Board appointments are described on page 122. past year this has been refreshed as described in the section headed ‘Our refreshed approach to succession and talent’. In As described above, this year we welcomed one new addition, the CEO discusses with the Non-Executive Directors Independent Non-Executive Director, Arja Taaveniku, to the performance of individual Executive Board members and our Board, and one of our Independent Non-Executive any changes that he proposes to make to this team. Whilst Directors stepped down from the Board in the year. We have this activity does not take place formally within the meetings announced the appointment of Vijay Talwar to join the Board of the Nominations Committee, it does form part of its work in October 2021, are actively seeking a further Director to in overseeing Executive Board development and succession improve gender balance on the Board. We have also drawn process, and the pipeline of talent available for succession to up a specification for Andy Harrison’s successor as Chair, the Board. due in September 2023, and appointed an external search consultancy to lead the process. Although this is two years Dunelm Board members have regular contact with members away, as with all appointments we take great care, and the of the Executive Board and the wider Dunelm Leadership Board Chair is a particularly important appointment. Ideally Team, through formal Board presentations, attendance of the we would like the successful candidate to serve some months Executive Board at the annual Strategy Days, and in regular on the Board before becoming Chair, to enable them to get visits to stores and other Company sites, when Non-Executive to know the Board and business, and build relationships with Directors meet members of the Executive Board or Dunelm key stakeholders. leadership team on a less formal basis. Each Non-Executive Director also mentors at least one of the members of the Executive Board. 124 DUNELM GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2021