Tim Arthur

Biography

Tim Arthur is a creative business leader, psychotherapist and executive coach whose career spans the worlds of media, finance, the arts, and social impact. He has held senior leadership roles including Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Dance, Global CEO of Time Out, and Creative Director at Virgin Money, where he led brand, marketing and customer experience strategies. His work has been defined by a people-first approach to innovation, culture, and transformation, and he now combines commercial acumen with psychological insights to help individuals and teams navigate professional, creative and personal challenges.

Tim began his career in the arts, working as an Artistic Director in regional theatre before becoming CEO of Cardboard Citizens, a pioneering charity that uses performance to support people experiencing homelessness. He later joined Time Out as UK Content Director, eventually moving lead the global brand. Facing a rapidly evolving media landscape, he made the decision to move the magazine to a free model, while overhauling its digital strategy and laying the groundwork for sustainable, audience-led growth. At Virgin Money, he helped reposition the challenger bank as one of the UK’s most trusted financial brands by centring human experience and creativity.

Drawing on his commercial background and training as a psychotherapist and coach, Tim now works with leaders and businesses to unlock performance, build resilience, navigate complexity and build purpose-driven cultures. He combines professional insight with emotional intelligence, exploring how businesses can thrive through change by placing people, creativity and wellbeing at the heart of their strategy whilst maintaining a focus on profit. 

With passion, humour, positivity and a first-hand knowledge of leadership and pressure, Tim explores themes including how technology can enhance rather than erode our humanity, how to avoid being overwhelmed by global, personal and professional crises, and why resilience is more than just bouncing back but is about growing, learning and embracing change and uncertainty. Whether speaking about AI and the future of society, mental wellbeing in turbulent times, or the mindset shifts required to thrive through change, Tim’s human, practical approach is inspiring, engaging and relevant.