Section 163: Particulars of directors to be registered: individuals
291.This section replaces section 289 of the 1985 Act so far as it applies to individuals. It specifies the particulars that must be entered in the register of directors for each director who is an individual (as opposed to a company or similar entity). The most significant change is the requirement for companies to provide a service address for a director rather than, as now, the director’s usual residential address. A director may give the company’s registered office as his or her service address; the service address may also be the same as the director’s residential address – but this will not be apparent from the public record. In addition, in fulfilment of a Government commitment given in March 1998, the particulars no longer include details of other directorships held. There are also changes to the requirement to provide the director’s name. The requirement is now to include any name by which the individual was formerly known for business purposes. As recommended by the CLR (Final Report, paragraph 11.38), there is no longer an exception for a married woman’s former name. However the section retains a protective provision relating to the former names of peers.
