The Board of Cable&Wireless Worldwide Group currently comprises a Chairman, three Non-Executive Directors and two Executive Directors, with a clear separation of the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive to ensure an appropriate balance of power and authority.

The full Board manages overall control of Group affairs, including responsibility for:

• Commercial strategy
• Approval of financial statements
• Major acquisitions and disposals
• Authority levels for expenditure
• Treasury and risk management policies
• Succession plans for senior executives

All Directors are equally accountable under the law for the proper stewardship of the Group's affairs are required to act in the best long-term interest of shareholders, take account of the wider community of interests represented by employees, customers and suppliers and that social, environmental and ethical issues are fully integrated into the Group's risk assessment processes.

We believe that all our Non-Executive Directors are independent of management and free from any business or other relationship that could materially interfere with the exercise of their independent judgement. John Barton is the recognised senior independent Non-Executive Director to whom any concerns can be conveyed.

We also have procedures in place to allow Directors to seek both independent professional advice, at the Company's expense, and the advice and services of the Company Secretary in order to fulfil their duties.

The Non-Executive Directors also play a leading role in corporate accountability and governance through their membership of the Remuneration Committee, the Nomination Committee and the Audit Committee.