BIOGRAPHY

Sir Richard Lambert served as Director General of the CBI, the most influential business group in the UK, during a period including the banking collapse and global recession. Previously he was Editor-in-Chief of the Financial Times.

At the FT Richard wrote the influential Lex column, then took charge of the New York bureau and subsequently launched the hugely successful US edition. During his decade as Editor the paper's circulation almost doubled, mainly due to overseas sales.

After leaving the FT Richard became the first non-economist appointed a full-time external member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee. His time there has given him rare insight into the decision-making processes of government and regulation.

Once appointed to succeed Digby Jones as head of the CBI, Richard's tenure was marked by business and political turmoil. The banking crisis, increased union activism and the change of government (Richard was the first person George Osborne telephoned after the Election) tested his leadership and his ability to plot a steady course for British business.

Sir Richard currently sits on the board of Business in the Community, and is the Chancellor of Warwick University. He also wrote the Lambert Review into links between business and higher education, a subject on which he remains passionate.

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