Skip to main content

CBI adds two senior figures from business to its Board

25 September 2024

The UK’s largest cross-sector business body, the CBI, is making two new appointments to its Board. Ruth Cairnie, Chair of Babcock International Group plc and the Senior Independent Director at BT Group plc, and Lesley Ann Nash, Non-Executive Director at St James’s Place plc, Workspace Group plc and Homes England join the CBI Board as Non-Executive Directors.

The selection process was run by the CBI Nominations Committee, formed at the end of 2023 to lead the search for new CBI Board members, and was led by CBI Chair Rupert Soames and the CBI Senior Independent Director, Victoria Cochrane.  

Along with current Board members, who are re-elected annually, Ms Cairnie and Ms Nash will now stand for election by members at the CBI AGM on 22 October 2024. 

Ruth Cairnie’s executive career was at Royal Dutch Shell spanning Research, B2B businesses, Strategy, Supply Chain and M&A and her previous roles include Senior Independent Director at Associated British Foods plc and Chair of the POWERful Women initiative. 

Ruth Cairnie, new CBI Board member says:  

“Having effective dialogue and partnership between government and business is critical to securing meaningful progress in addressing issues and driving dynamism into the UK economy. To achieve that, the CBI has a unique and essential role to play. It can bring a cross-economy perspective, speaking for large, listed companies as well as the trade associations and SMEs who make up supply chains across the country. And with the largest policy and economics team outside Whitehall, the CBI can convene businesses like no other organisation and develop practical, robust policy solutions that work. I look forward to joining the Board to help drive positive impact for members of all sizes.”

Lesley Ann Nash is a qualified accountant who worked in Investment Banking at UBS and Morgan Stanley, including spending two decades on the trading floor. In 2013, she left the private sector to join the Cabinet Office where during her seven years as a senior Civil Servant, she worked under three Prime Ministers and six different Cabinet Office Ministers. 

Lesley Ann Nash, new CBI Board member says:  

“In the first 100 days of a new government, facing economic challenges and tough fiscal decisions, the role of the CBI as a single voice of business to government is more important than ever. I am delighted to join the CBI Board to help them take the voice of business to the heart of government.”

Rupert Soames, Chair, CBI said:  

“Ruth and Lesley Ann bring immense knowledge and experience to our Board. Their diverse experience across the private and public sectors in both executive and non-executive roles is what we need to help lead the CBI into our 60th anniversary year. Our members want to see us partnering with the new Government, bringing business’ innovation and optimism to the table to implement practical measures that will bring about growth. Ruth and Lesley Ann possess both the insights and enthusiasm to ensure that we deliver for members.”

  1. About Ruth Cairnie: Ruth Cairnie is the Chair of Babcock International Group plc and the Senior Independent Director at BT Group plc. She is Patron of the Women in Defence Charter, a trustee of Windsor Leadership and of the White Ensign Association. She is a supporting Chair at Chapter Zero. Ruth’s previous roles include Senior Independent Director at Associated British Foods plc, Non-Executive Director at Rolls-Royce Holdings, Contour Global plc and Keller Group plc, member of the Finance Committee at Cambridge University and Chair of the POWERful Women initiative. Ruth’s executive career was at Royal Dutch Shell spanning Research, B2B businesses, Strategy, Supply Chain and M&A.

  1. About Lesley Ann Nash: Lesley Ann sits on the Boards of St James’s Place plc (SJP), Workspace Group plc (WKSP), Homes England (HE) and BusinessLDN. At SJP she is a member of the Audit, Risk and Remuneration Committees and is the designated NED for Workforce Engagement. At WKSP she is Chair of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit and Risk Committees. At HE, the Government’s housing accelerator, Lesley Ann chairs the Nominations and Remuneration Committee and is a member of Audit Committee. Lesley Ann was a trustee at North London Hospice for eight years.

She cut her teeth at UBS designing derivative linked assets for private clients and Swiss Cantons. Latterly, as a Managing Director of Morgan Stanley, she built and led a structured interbank business within the Global Capital Markets Division. In 2013, Lesley Ann left the private sector to join the Cabinet Office. Against a turbulent backdrop, she was able to create meaningful change and significant value for the public purse. Throughout her executive and non-executive careers, Lesley Ann has worked hard to support and promote under represented groups and fosters equality of opportunity wherever she can. She is proud to be a member of the Parker Review panel driving greater ethnic representation on FTSE Boards. Lesley Ann is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and holds an MBA from City University Business School (formerly, CASS).