Martin Taylor (born in 1952) began his career as a financial journalist with Reuters and the Financial Times.  He then joined Courtaulds plc, becoming a director in 1987, and then Chief Executive of Courtaulds Textiles plc on its demerger in 1990.  He moved to Barclays plc in 1993 as Chief Executive, a post he held until the end of 1998.  From 1999-2003 he was Chairman of WH Smith PLC and from 1999 to 2005 International Advisor to Goldman Sachs. Currently he is Chairman of the Board of Syngenta AG.  He has done various pieces of work for the British Government and served for five years as a member of its Council for Science and Technology.  Appointed as independent non executive director in July 2000 (at the moment of the creation of RTL Group), he took over the responsibilities of Vice Chairman of the Board in December 2004.

*independent director