SGH Trading as Vertas Group Main Board
Operational Board
Project Board
Our Senior Leaders
Ian Surtees MBA, FIoD – Group Chief Executive Officer
Ian joined Vertas in September 2014 having spent 25 years working within the facilities management arena, most recently for OCS in the UK but also has experience of senior operational management within Europe.
Duncan Johnson – Non-Executive Chair
Duncan is responsible for chairing the SGH trading as Vertas Group main Board and representing the interests of its shareholder. He has over 25 years’ experience holding director roles in both the public and private sectors, and this has led to him developing a specialism in business and strategy development, performance management and service turnarounds.
James Reeder – Non-Executive Director
James joined the Suffolk Group Holdings Board in June 2025 as Suffolk County Council’s representative and Non-Executive Director for Vertas Group. He is Governor at James Paget University Hospital and Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust, Board Member of the Broads Authority, and Trustee of The Ashley School Academy Trust. Formerly CEO of G B Chadd (Holdings) Ltd, he co-founded Enterprise Lowestoft CIC in 2005. James has held Suffolk County Council cabinet roles and now serves on key committees, offering expertise in finance, leadership, and governance.
Geoff Dobson – Non-Executive Director
Geoff joined the Vertas Group Board in April 2024 and currently chairs the Audit and Risk Committee (ARC), having been a member since January 2022. Previously, Geoff served on two NHS Boards: the West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group and the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, where he chaired the Audit and Finance Committees, respectively. Additionally, Geoff was an Independent Audit Committee Member for the New Anglia LEP. Before these roles, he had a diverse and extensive career in local government, including over 20 years as a Finance Director for two large, complex councils.
Louise Wilson – Non-Executive Director
Louise joined the Vertas Group Board as a NED in February 2023 and also Chairs the Remco. She currently sits on 2 other Boards and works as an advisor delivering strategic HR projects, leadership development and facilitation, and executive coaching and mentoring for a number of businesses and individual clients. Louise is a generalist HR professional with significant international experience and is used to leading global functions that cover all aspects of Business and HR across many countries.
Jamie Smith – Group Chief Finance Officer
Jamie joined Vertas in September 2020 after a career of more than 20 years spent in senior finance roles in the housing, construction, property development and energy industries in the UK and overseas.
Ian Surtees MBA, FIoD – Group Chief Executive Officer
Ian joined Vertas in September 2014 having spent 25 years working within the facilities management arena, most recently for OCS in the UK but also has experience of senior operational management within Europe.
Kate Innes – Group Chief People Officer
Kate joined Vertas in May 2015 and has nearly 20 years of working experience in HR across a variety of sectors, including Pharmaceutical, retail, Manufacturing, Automotive and the NHS. Kate holds a BA Hons 2:1 in HR and Business Management and is CIPD Level 7 qualified. Kate is responsible for the Groups People Strategy, as well as Group culture, Colleague Health & Wellbeing, Organisational Development, and GDPR.
Jamie Smith – Group Chief Finance Officer
Jamie joined Vertas in September 2020 after a career of more than 20 years spent in senior finance roles in the housing, construction, property development and energy industries in the UK and overseas.
Keith Buet – Managing Director, Vertas
Keith has worked in the Facilities Management and Service industry for over 37 years. He joined Vertas in February 2018, after time in Australia and the Middle East as Operations Director looking after FM.
Matthew Self – Managing Director, Concertus
Providing overall operational and commercial direction and leadership for the Concertus Group, Matthew is responsible for the performance management of all professional services and Director of the joint venture companies with Derbyshire County Council.
Selena Ayling – Managing Director, Opus
With over 20 years in workforce solutions, Selena has led strategic operations across public and private sectors. From recruitment consultancy to Managed Service Provider leadership, Selena specialises in building high-performing teams, driving transformation, and delivering innovative staffing strategies that support organisational growth and operational excellence.
Karen Burrowes – Operations Director
07714 272624 Karen.Burrowes@vertas.co.uk
Zara Zurowski – Associate Director of People
07917 908392 zara.zurowski@vertas.co.uk
Charles Coulson – Associate Director for Design (Concertus)
07713 091213 charles.coulson@concertus.co.uk
Chris Osborne – Associate Director of Catering and FM
07523 936266 chris.osborne@vertas.co.uk
Damon Impett – Associate Director of IT and Systems
damon.impett@vertas.co.uk
Dominic Warren – Associate Director of Procurement & Supply Chain
07843 501925 Dominic.Warren@vertas.co.uk
Michele Jackson – Associate Director for Operations (Opus)
michele.jackson@opuspeoplesolutions.co.uk
Stuart Sayers – Group Financial Controller
07917905435 stuart.sayers@vertas.co.uk
Karen Burrowes – Operations Director
07714 272624 Karen.Burrowes@vertas.co.uk
Chris Osborne – Associate Director of Catering and FM
07523 936266 chris.osborne@vertas.co.uk
Damon Impett – Associate Director of IT and Systems
damon.impett@vertas.co.uk
Dominic Warren – Associate Director of Procurement & Supply Chain
07843 501925 Dominic.Warren@vertas.co.uk
Jo Spencer – Associate Director of Operations
07718 100976 jo.spencer@schoolschoice.org
Steve Collins – Associate Director of Cleaning and Specialist Services
07553061373 steve.collins@vertas.co.uk
Zara Zurowski – Associate Director of People
07917 908392 zara.zurowski@vertas.co.uk
Adam Buffery – Head of Oakpark Security
07553062805 adam.buffery@oaksec.co.uk
Adrian Glasgow – Head of Energy Services
01473 263948 adrian.glasgow@vertas.co.uk
Andrew Pemberton – Head of Business Development
07565 204716 andrew.pemberton@vertas.co.uk
Anna Cooksey – Head of Schools’ Choice
07549017089 anna.cooksey@schoolschoice.org
Bill Farley – Head of Cleaning and Specialist Services
07542 228951 bill.farley@vertas.co.uk
Katie Dixon – Head of People Experience
07704 017536 katie.robinette@vertas.co.uk
Lee Howes – Head of Fleet and Passenger Services
07584 374681 Lee.Howes@vertas.co.uk
Lee Johns – Head of FM (SCC and WSC)
07761 598955 lee.johns@vertas.co.uk
Louise Enoch – Head of Legal
07874793107 louise.enoch@vertas.co.uk
Louise Gilbert – Group Head of Financial, Planning and Analysis
07594521718 louise.gilbert@concertus.co.uk
Martin Overton – Head of Grounds & Landscaping Services
07395831132 martin.overton@vertas.co.uk
Neil Bate-Jones – Head of Vertas Nottinghamshire Limited
07917508684 Neil.Bate-Jones@vertas.co.uk
Rachel Nellist – Head of Churchill Catering
07979365147 rachel.nellist@vertas.co.uk
Rachel Shaw – Head of FM (VDL)
07917 905969 rachel.shaw@vertas.co.uk
Sarah Layton – Group Head of Sustainability and Social Value
07595 090143 sarah.layton@vertas.co.uk
Scott Welton – Head of Finance
01473 944545 scott.welton@vertas.co.uk
Stuart Sayers – Group Financial Controller
07917905435 stuart.sayers@vertas.co.uk
Susan Mahoney – Head of Education Catering
07808647349 susan.mahoney@vertas.co.uk