Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI)

John McAdam graduated from Manchester University with a first class honours degree in Chemical Physics and, after completing his doctorate, was awarded a research fellowship.

In 1974 he joined Unilever as a management trainee and held a variety of managerial positions within Birds Eye Foods before joining the Board of Unilever’s flavours and fragrance business, PPF International, as Technical Director. In 1987, he joined the Board of Quest International as Senior Vice President in charge of Manufacturing, Logistics and Procurement before returning to Birds Eye Walls, where he assumed Board responsibility for Manufacturing, Research and Development.

In 1993 he was appointed Chairman of Unichema International and, following ICI’s acquisition of the Unilever Speciality Chemical businesses in 1997, became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Quest and a member of the ICI Executive Management Team. In January 1998 he was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive of ICI Paints and the following year he was elected to the Board of ICI with additional responsibility for Research, Development and Technology and ICI’s activities in Asia.

John McAdam is a business leader with a strong focus on results and extensive knowledge of ICI’s operations around the world. The Board believes that the combination of knowledge, drive and leadership he is bringing to bear on the issues facing ICI is serving both the Company and its shareholders well.

Until September 2005, John McAdam was a Non-Executive Director of Severn Trent Plc. He was appointed as Senior Independent Director of J Sainsbury plc on 1 September 2005. In addition, he is a member of the University of Surrey Business Advisory Board and a member of the University of Cambridge Chemistry Advisory Board. Aged 57.

John McAdam graduated from Manchester University with a first class honours degree in Chemical Physics and, after completing his doctorate, was awarded a research fellowship.

In 1974 he joined Unilever as a management trainee and held a variety of managerial positions within Birds Eye Foods before joining the Board of Unilever’s flavours and fragrance business, PPF International, as Technical Director. In 1987, he joined the Board of Quest International as Senior Vice President in charge of Manufacturing, Logistics and Procurement before returning to Birds Eye Walls, where he assumed Board responsibility for Manufacturing, Research and Development.

In 1993 he was appointed Chairman of Unichema International and, following ICI’s acquisition of the Unilever Speciality Chemical businesses in 1997, became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Quest and a member of the ICI Executive Management Team. In January 1998 he was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive of ICI Paints and the following year he was elected to the Board of ICI with additional responsibility for Research, Development and Technology and ICI’s activities in Asia.

John McAdam is a business leader with a strong focus on results and extensive knowledge of ICI’s operations around the world. The Board believes that the combination of knowledge, drive and leadership he is bringing to bear on the issues facing ICI is serving both the Company and its shareholders well.

Until September 2005, John McAdam was a Non-Executive Director of Severn Trent Plc. He was appointed as Senior Independent Director of J Sainsbury plc on 1 September 2005. In addition, he is a member of the University of Surrey Business Advisory Board and a member of the University of Cambridge Chemistry Advisory Board. Aged 57.