J D WETHERSPOON - Key Persons


Ben Thorne

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Non - Executive Director
Appointed to the board in 2020 and is a member of the audit, remuneration and nomination committees, chair of the nomination committee and the company's senior independent director. He qualified as a solicitor in 1985, specialising in corporate law. He subsequently moved into investment banking in 1987 and has over 30 years' experience in advising corporates, including (while at Kleinwort Benson) J D Wetherspoon plc, on a wide range of capital market and corporate finance issues. He has subsequently held senior advisory posts at GCA Altium and Panmure Gordon.

Ben Whitley - CFO

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Finance Director
Joined in 1999 and was appointed to the board in 2014. He is a graduate of Durham University and qualified as a chartered management accountant in 2012.

Debbie Whittingham

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Employee
Appointed to the board in 2021 and is regional manager for the West Midlands. She joined Wetherspoon as a shift manager in 1992, was appointed as a pub manager in 1993 and as an area manager in 2002.

Debra van Gene

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Non - Executive Director
Appointed to the board in 2006 and is chair of the remuneration committee and a member of the audit and nomination committees. She is a graduate of Oxford University. She was a commissioner with the Judicial Appointments Commission. She was a partner at Heidrick and Struggles Inc and previously ran her own executive search firm.

Emma Gibson

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Associate Employee Director
Appointed as an associate employee director in 2021 and is pub manager of The Imperial (Exeter), one of the company's busiest pubs. She joined Wetherspoon as a bar associate in 2004 and was appointed as a pub manager in 2010.

Harry Morley

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Non - Executive Director
Appointed to the board in 2016 and is chair of the audit committee and a member of the nomination and remuneration committees. He is a graduate of Oxford University. He is a non-executive director of The Mercantile Investment Trust plc, TheWorks.co.uk plc and of Cadogan Group Limited and its related subsidiary companies. He is also a trustee of the Ascot Authority. He qualified as a chartered accountant in 1991.

Hudson Simmons

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Employee
Appointed to the board in 2021 and is area manager for the Sheffield area. He joined Wetherspoon as a shift manager in 1997, was appointed as a pub manager in 2003 and as an area manager in 2014.

James Ullman

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Personnel and Retail Audit Director
Joined in 1994 and was appointed to the board in 2022. He is a graduate of Brighton University and Birmingham City University. He became a chartered internal auditor in 2011.

John Hutson - CEO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Director
Joined in 1991 and was appointed to the board in 1996. He is a graduate of Exeter University and previously worked with Allied Domecq.

Nigel Connor - Chief Legal Officer, Secretary

Job Titles:
  • Company Secretary
  • Director
  • Legal Director
Joined in 2009 and was appointed company secretary in 2014 and legal director in 2022.

Tim Martin - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman
  • Director
Founded the company in 1979, having previously studied law at Nottingham University and qualified as a barrister. He became chairman in 1983.

Will Fotheringham

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Associate Employee Director
Appointed as an associate employee director in 2021 and is general manager for the Greater Manchester, Lancashire and North Wales region. He joined Wetherspoon in 1998.