The Directors

Lord Marland

Lord Jonathan Marland is Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, and Chairman of UK Trade and Investment's Business Ambassadors' Group. He was awarded a life peerage in 2006 as Baron Marland of Odstock.

Before entering Government, Lord Marland was Opposition Whip in the Lords as well as Opposition Spokesperson for the Cabinet Office in 2009-10.

Outside of politics, Lord Marland was one of the founding directors of Jardine Lloyd Thomson plc, a multinational insurance business and also founded the Jubilee insurance company at Lloyd's of London. He led the acquisitions of Hunter Wellington Boots, Insurance Capital Partners, Janspeed Performance Ltd and Wisden Cricketer Magazine. He is a Trustee of Peggy Guggenheim (UK), the Churchill Society, Atlantic Partnerships, The Mayor of London's Fund for Young Musicians and Chairman of Tickets for Troops.

He is the President of Salisbury City F.C. and a member of the MCC.

Born in 1956 and educated at Shrewsbury School, Lord Marland is married to Penny, a Probation Officer, and they have four children together.

Jonathan Mervis

Jonathan Mervis is Chairman of PSG Solutions plc which is quoted on AIM. He has previously led the management team in the successful turnaround of two quoted companies. Prior to that, Jonathan assisted a number of British listed industrial companies to expand in the United States. He plays golf and tennis and is a keen follower of Rugby and Cricket. Jonathan Mervis' son, Lieutenant Paul Mervis of 2nd Battalion, The Rifles, was killed in action on 12th June 2009 in Helmand Province Afghanistan.

Stuart Higgins

Stuart Higgins runs a PR company called Stuart Higgins Communications, which is part of the Fast Track sports and marketing company. His company has a wide range of clients including well-known individuals and top companies, sports stars and sports organisations. Stuart is helping to promote the charity. He is a previous Editor of the Sun newspaper, where he worked for 20 years and has built up a vast network of contacts and connections which has helped Tickets for Troops get off the ground.

Ross Barden

Ross Barden is the Director of Operations at Tickets For Troops. Based in our offices in Lower Grosvenor Place he is in charge of the day to day running of the organisation. Ross has been heavily involved with the charity's development since he joined the team as an intern in 2010 and played a major part in organising 'The Royal Albert Hall Cup' in October 2011; a boxing tournament between the British Tri-Service Boxing Team and the U.S. Marine Corp Boxing Team in front of more than 3,500 military personnel at the Royal Albert Hall.  

Ross graduated from Newcastle University in 2009 where he achieved a BA in Geography and Planning. He is an extremely keen sportsman and excels in Rugby, Hockey, Cricket, Sailing and Skiing.