Company Directors

Ian Dighé is an independent Non-Executive Director and is the Company’s Chairman. He was appointed to the Board on 7th February 2024.

Ian has significant listed company and City experience, gained throughout his executive career with a particular focus on the investment banking, corporate broking, asset management and closed-end funds sectors. In addition, he is experienced in developing boards and senior management teams.

Ian was a co-founder of Bridgewell Group plc and Chairman of Miton Group plc from February 2011, overseeing the successful refinancing and subsequent growth of the group, before he retired from the Miton board in December 2017.
He is currently Chairman of The Investment Company plc and an independent director of Seneca Growth Capital VCT plc.

He is also a director of a number of private companies and charities.

Philip Walker is the Group’s Chief Executive Officer. He was appointed to the Board on 3rd November 2014 as Chief Financial Officer, being promoted to CEO in February 2017. Mr Walker is a chartered accountant and qualified Corporate Finance professional.

Since joining Pennant, Mr Walker has brought his experience to bear in driving the review, renewal and implementation of Group Strategy. He originated and implemented strategy to transition the company from a primarily project-based and capital-intensive operation to a high margin software and technical services business.

Prior to joining the Company, Mr Walker worked for Grant Thornton UK LLP and Barclays Bank Plc. At Grant Thornton, he led numerous corporate finance transactions (both buy side and sell side) and developed and implemented strategic plans for a number of businesses. While at Barclays, Mr Walker worked with businesses with a turnover of between £5 million and £50 million, focusing on debt structuring, including working capital, investment, trade finance and the restructuring of facilities. He provided structuring advice on various types of corporate transactions.

Since joining Pennant, Mr Walker has brought this experience to bear in driving the review, renewal and implementation of Group strategy.

Mr Walker is responsible for the day-to-day running of all Group businesses and the execution of Group strategy.

Darren Wiggins is the Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He was appointed on the 20th November 2024. 

Mr Wiggins is a chartered accountant with over 20 years’ experience, having previously held senior executive positions in finance and operational roles. Prior to Pennant, Mr Wiggins worked for Meggitt Aerospace and Melrose plc.

As CFO, Mr Wiggins is responsible for the day-to-day financial management of the Group and leads the relationships with its auditors, bankers and tax advisors.

David Clements is the Commercial & Risk Director. He joined the Group in June 2017 and was appointed to the Board on 11th October 2017.

He is a solicitor with extensive experience in corporate and commercial law and practice, gained advising AIM-quoted and private software and engineering companies. Prior to joining Pennant, he was with the law firm Charles Russell Speechlys.

As Commercial & Risk Director, Mr Clements is responsible for commercial, risk management, administrative and information systems functions across the Group, seeking to ensure the Group’s legal and commercial position is appropriately protected.

Mr Clements also acts as Company Secretary to all Group companies. Mr Clements works closely with the Company’s nominated adviser to ensure proper management of investor relations, company law and AIM compliance. He is experienced on public company regulatory compliance and Takeover Code matters.

Jon Kempster is an independent Non-Executive Director who was appointed to the Board on 18th July 2024. He is a chartered accountant (FCA) who trained with Price Waterhouse and holds a BA (Hons) in Business Studies. He has over 25 years in the Boardroom of industry-leading FTSE-listed plcs, including Linden Homes, Low & Bonar, Wincanton, and Frasers Group.

Jon is currently a Non-Executive Director of AIM quoted Norman Broadbent plc and Synetics Plc. He is also a Director of Delta Pension Nominees Limited.

Deborah Wilkinson is an independent Non-Executive Director who was appointed to the Board on 1st February 2023. She is a chartered accountant (FCA) who trained with Deloitte and holds a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering. Ms Wilkinson has held various financial and commercial leadership roles with a range of businesses and has extensive experience in the defence aviation sector with Airborne Systems Group and IrvinGQ Limited.

Deborah is currently a non-executive director of Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult Limited.

Klaas van der Leest is an independent Non-Executive Director who was appointed on 3rd September 2024. Mr van der Leest is currently Chief Executive Officer of Intercede Group PLC, an AIM-quoted cybersecurity business which has seen revenue growth of 100% since his appointment in 2018. Prior to Intercede, he was Managing Director at Intelecom UK Ltd, an independent private equity-backed communications SaaS business, leading the organisation’s transformation, and trebling subscription licence sales over a three-year period.

Mr Van der Leest has held various other senior executive positions for UK technology businesses with a focus on product development and sales strategies.

Directors’ interests in the Company