Experian 2015 Annual Report Download - page 25

For businesses and organisations, we
help to find meaning in all the data they
accumulate, to create better outcomes
for their business and build stronger,
long-term customer relationships. We are
acutely aware that our role has never been
more important to the people whose lives
we touch. Throughout this year’s Annual
Report you can read their stories, in their
words, about the difference we make.
The role we play is clear: we help people
and businesses to protect, manage and
make the most of their data, to help build
stronger economies and communities.
Strong and effective governance
I would like to take this opportunity to
thank Alan Jebson, who will retire as a
non-executive director at the conclusion
of our Annual General Meeting in July,
for his wise counsel and his outstanding
leadership of the Audit Committee. Alan
joined the Experian Board immediately
following the company’s flotation
on the London Stock Exchange, and
has contributed greatly to Experian’s
framework of controls and risk
management. The year also saw important
Board changes take place. Brian Cassin
was appointed as Chief Executive Officer
and we were delighted to welcome Lloyd
Pitchford, who succeeded Brian, as our
Chief Financial Officer. Kerry Williams also
joined the Board, in his new role as Chief
Operating Officer and we welcomed Jan
Babiak as non-executive director. As part
of a smooth transition, all four are already
making a significant contribution to the
Board in their new roles.
Effective governance is more than
adherence to a set of rules. It provides
an appropriate control framework, within
which we have developed and can pursue
our strategic priorities, to create long-term
shareholder value. And risk management
is at the heart of effective governance; it
is central to how we operate, and we have
put in place governance processes that
enable us to manage the risks facing the
business, create value and deliver returns
to our shareholders. You will read later in
the Corporate governance report about
our governance activities during the year,
including the Board evaluation process,
the induction of our new directors and the
activities of the Board and its committees.
Recognising our responsibilities
I have mentioned our role and our sense
of purpose and responsibility to society,
people and businesses. Our corporate
responsibility agenda embodies these core
values and the year saw us help millions of
people through our programmes.
In the second year of our global social
innovation programme, we helped
2.6 million more people to get fair and
affordable access to essential, everyday
services. We did this by investing in new
products and services, which you can
read about in this report. Our impact in
this important area saw us receive ‘Future
Champion’ status for corporate citizenship,
at the UK National Business Awards held
in London in November.
In our local communities, we again gave
back more of our time than ever before,
to help those most in need. Our people
volunteered 39,139 hours of their time
during and outside work last year.
Environmentally, we continued to reduce
our impact, with a corresponding benefit
to our business efficiency. Initiatives
to consolidate our offices and cut our
business travel have helped us achieve our
carbon reduction target ahead of schedule.
A winning team, an exciting future
Our continued success owes a great
deal to the outstanding efforts of an
exceptionally talented global workforce.
I would like to take this opportunity to
thank everyone at Experian for the skills,
passion and commitment they bring to our
company. The range of high-quality growth
opportunities in front of us are as strong
as they have ever been, while the role we
play in people’s everyday lives has never
been more important.
Highlights Full year dividend
39.25 USc
Share repurchase programme
US$600m
CO2e reduced by
17%
Volunteering hours
39,139
Revenue
US$4.8bn
23Strategic report •Chairman’s statement