Sir Vernon Ellis, Chair

Vernon Ellis became Chair of the British Council in March 2010, succeeding Lord Kinnock. 

He has been Chairman of English National Opera since June 2006, having become Acting Chairman in December 2005. Since then, he has led the Board and management through a major turnaround. It is recognised as the most innovative opera company in the world and is the major international partner of the Metropolitan Opera in New York and many other leading opera houses. 

He is also involved on the Boards of several other musical organisations.  In addition, he supports many arts companies, artists and charities through his Foundation.  The Foundation also manages around 80 concerts a year at his London home, providing many leading artists with a run-through ahead of major public engagements but also development and showcasing opportunities for young artists as well as fundraising opportunities for musical organisations and charities. He was Chairman of the Classical Opera Company from its foundation in 1997 until 2009 and remains its President.  He was a Trustee of the Royal College of Music from 2004-10.

He is Chairman of Martin Randall Travel Ltd., the leading cultural tours company and of One Medicare, a company providing primary health care services. He is a member of the Price Waterhouse Coopers UK partnership External Advisory Panel.

Prior to early 2010, he spent all his working life at Accenture in a number of major operational roles overseeing a period of extraordinary growth.  Through the 1990s he led the firm’s operations in Europe, Middle East, Africa and India and also developed Accenture’s relationship with the World Economic Forum.  From 2001 he was International Chairman and, inter alia, established and chaired the global corporate citizenship activities and global Accenture Foundations.

He also led the firm’s participation in the World Economic Forum and was the UK private sector representative at the G8 Digital Opportunities Task Force as well as being involved in several other development initiatives and organisations. He also served on the advisory boards for IMD Lausanne, the Said Business School and the Centre for European Reform.