Martin Davidson succeeded Sir David Green as Chief Executive of the British Council in April 2007.

Martin has extensive knowledge of China having worked in China and Hong Kong at various times for a total of more than 16 years.  

His first experience in East Asia was as a young graduate District Officer in the Tsuen Wan District of Hong Kong.  He also served as a Flying Officer in the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force.  

Building on his knowledge of East Asia, Martin has had an extremely successful career in the British Council during which he has become a leading professional in cultural diplomacy.

He joined the British Council in 1983 and was posted to Beijing from early 1984 to 1987. He returned to Hong Kong to establish the British Council's office covering the southern provinces of China in 1989.His last overseas post was as Director of the British Council in China from 1995.  He returned to London in March 2000 as Director for East Asia and the Americas and subsequently become Director for Europe, Americas and Middle East. Martin was appointed Deputy Director-General of the British Council in September 2005.