EXPERIENCE: Appointed Independent Non-Executive Director in April 2012 and Member of the Remuneration Committee and Nomination & Governance Committee in April 2014. She was appointed a Life Peer in 2005 following her career as a Member of Parliament between 1984 and 2005. She served successively as Secretary of State for Health and then Culture, Media and Sport. Virginia was formerly a director of Bupa and Akzo Nobel NV. She is currently a director of International Resources Group Limited, member of the International Advisory Council of Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Chancellor of University of Hull and Sheriff of Hull and Trustee of The Economist Newspaper. She is the Chair of Board & CEO Practice at Odgers Berndtson. Virginia’s extensive experience within government, particularly as Secretary of State for Health brings a unique insight into the healthcare system both in the UK and globally, whilst her experience on the Board of Bupa brings an understanding of the private healthcare sector and an insight into the needs of our customers. Her experience running the Board practice at a search firm gives her a valuable skillset as a member of the Nomination & Governance Committee and Remuneration Committee. Her long association with Hull, the home of many of our UK employees also brings an added perspective.   UNIVERSITY: Virginia gained her MSc in Social Administration from the London School of Economics following her first degree.

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