Close Brothers Group plc announced the appointment of Mark Pain as an independent non-executive director with effect from January 1, 2021. On joining the board, Mark will become a member of the board's Nomination & Governance and Risk Committees and will also become the company's Senior Independent Director. At the same time, and consistent with the company's other independent non-executive directors, he will also become a director of the company's Banking subsidiary, Close Brothers Limited. Mark takes over as the company's Senior Independent Director from Oliver Corbett, who has held the position on an interim basis since the retirement of Geoffrey Howe from the board on November 19, 2020. Oliver continues to chair the board's Audit Committee. Mark is currently a non-executive director of AXA UK plc, where he serves on the Audit, Investment, Remuneration, Nomination, and Risk Committees. He is Chairman of London Square Limited and Empiric Student Property plc.