How we are managed

The Executive Board

Our Executive Board is responsible for the overall strategy, direction and management of the organisation. Our Executive Board comprises the Chief Executive Martin Davidson and five Executive Directors:

• Martin Davidson CMG, Chief Executive
• Dr Jo Beall - Director Education and Society
• Pippa Greenslade - Director Global Human Resources
• Adrian Greer - Director Global Network
• Mark Robson - Director English
• Bidesh Sarkar - Chief Financial Officer
• Graham Sheffield CBE - Director Arts
• Rebecca Walton - Director Partnerships and Business Development
• John Worne - Director Corporate HQ

The Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees are the guardians of the British Council’s purpose and are ultimately accountable for the organisation. Currently chaired by Sir Vernon Ellis, they hold the Executive Board responsible for the organisation’s performance, strategy and policy. The trustees meet six times a year and edited minutes of their meetings are available to the public.

Current trustees are:

• Sir Vernon Ellis - Chair
• Alan Buckle - Deputy Chair 
• Nihal Arthanayake
• Martin Bean
• James Boyle
• Simon Fraser 
• Professor Pamela Gillies 
• Lord Hall of Birkenhead CBE
• Sue Hoyle OBE
• Claire Ighodaro CBE
• Howell James CBE
• Professor Stephen Jones BSc PhD
• Patrick McKenna
• Raoul Shah

There exist three formal sub committees to the Board: Audit (pdf 55kb), Remuneration (pdf 43kb) and Nomination (pdf 47kb).

We also publish information about our Executive Board members' salaries and travel expenses, as well as edited minutes of the Board of Trustees and their Register of Interests.