About us
The Board
The Dover Harbour Board has a rich heritage that spans over 400 years. We are one of the oldest continuously operating organisations in the UK, with a long history of managing Europe’s busiest ferry port.
While operating under the command of Kings and Queens prior to 1606, it wasn’t until King James I requested that the harbour be transferred by Royal Charter from corporation to its own body which would eventually be known as Dover Harbour Board.
Jason Holt, Chairman
Jason is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bristol Airport, of EDX Medical Group plc, and of the Trustees of the Great Western Air Ambulance. He was previously interim Chair and Chief Executive of European Cargo Limited, the UK’s largest dedicated airfreight carrier, and Chair & Chief Executive of Swissport Western Europe, Europe’s largest airport services business. He was also previously Whitehall Chief Executive of Coronavirus Testing in the United Kingdom and latterly the Executive Vice President & Board member for Luxembourg’s Cargolux International, Europe’s largest dedicated freight airline. He has held similar leadership positions in Virgin Atlantic Airways and EasyJet Limited plc. Prior to this Jason was a pilot and former Royal Air Force Squadron Leader. Jason is a law graduate, has an Executive MBA from London Business School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard Law School. He is a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
Re-appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport with effect from 20 March 2026. Current term of appointment expires on 19 March 2029.
Doug Bannister, Chief Executive
Doug has over 30 years’ experience in international business and has held roles with the Ports of Jersey and leading sea transportation companies including P&O Nedlloyd and Maersk Line UK & Ireland. He has deep experience in leading asset intense operational businesses, having operated in shipping, maritime and aviation sectors.
Appointed by Dover Harbour Board. Date of appointment 1 January 2019.
Jonathan Pascoe, Chief Financial Officer
Jonathan is a Chartered Accountant with extensive experience at board level within the ferry and port sector. He joined the organisation as Chief Financial Officer in August 2021 having spent more than twenty
years with the Wightlink group as Finance Director and Chief Financial Officer.
Appointed by Dover Harbour Board. Date of appointment 27 January 2022.
Perry Glading, Deputy Chairman
Perry has extensive experience in the Ports and Shipping sector, having previously held main executive board positions with the Port of Tilbury and Forth Ports, and with Geest North Sea Line BV. He has also served as a Board Director of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, Chair of Opportunity South Essex, and Deputy Chair of the Thames Estuary Growth Board. He remains a nonexecutive director of High House Production Park and Chair of Governors at St Joseph’s College, Ipswich. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.
Reappointed by Dover Harbour Board with effect from 1 October 2025. Current term of appointment expires on 30 September 2028. (Chairs the Remuneration Committee).
Denise Everitt, Non-Executive Director
Denise is a Chartered Accountant and spent several years in the accountancy profession prior to moving into Higher Education, initially as Financial Controller at Cranfield University and then at the University of Kent in a variety of roles, most latterly as Chief Operating Officer responsible for Estates, Information and Commercial Services. She retired from the University in 2020. She has held roles as a school governor in East Kent and was previously a Board member of Canterbury for Business.
Re-appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport with effect from 1 January 2024. Current term of appointment expires on 31 December 2026. (Chairs the Audit Committee)
Neil Wiggins, Non-Executive Director
Born and raised in Dover, Neil has more than 40 years’ maritime experience, at sea as a navigation officer and ashore in port and marine operational management. In 2006 he started his own marine operations and consultancy business in Dover, which now operates a fleet of 21 container and deep sea ro-ro cargo vessels and provides Dangerous Goods Safety Advice to shipping lines. He is also a Trustee of the Dover Roman Painted House Trust.
Appointed by Dover Harbour Board with effect from 1 November 2025. Current term of appointment expires on 31 October 2028.
Julie Marson, Non-Executive Director
Julie has an MA in History from Downing College, Cambridge and spent nearly twenty years in corporate banking and business. A former East Kent magistrate, she served as a Member of Parliament from 2019 until 2024 during which time she was a Member of the Treasury Select Committee and the Business and Trade Select Committee and also served as a Government Whip and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Employment.
Appointed by Dover Harbour Board with effect from 1 November 2025. Current term of appointment expires on 31 October 2028.
Helen Samuels, Non-Executive Director
Helen has had a diverse career in heavy, complex infrastructure, both in the UK and internationally, working for owner operators, regulators, and within the supply chain. Over her 35-year executive career, she has served as a chartered engineer, a chartered water and environmental manager, and fellow of both the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Permanent Way Institution. Former roles include Engineering Director for United Utilities, Engineering Director for Network Rail’s £6bn pa capital programme, CEO of Bibby Marine, and MD of a construction JV delivering a £1.2bn pa section of HS2. She also sits on the board of Northern Marine Group, a subsidiary of Stena AB.
Re-appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport on 19 January 2026. Current term of appointment expires on 18 January 2029.
Sarim Sheikh, Non-Executive Director
Sarim currently serves as a non-executive director on the Board of Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust plc and Net Zero Technology Centre. In addition, he has served on several boards across business & philanthropy in the UK, Europe & Middle East. He has 30 years of energy & infrastructure experience including rail and transport, with Shell & GE. Sarim’s last executive role was as Chief Operating Officer of GE Offshore Wind, where he led the scale-up of the division to deliver multibillion-dollar projects with the world’s largest wind turbine GE Haliade-X. Sarim holds an MBA from London Business School.
Appointed by Dover Harbour Board with effect from 1 March 2024. Current term of appointment expires on 28 February 2027
