Business Ambassadors

Business and University leaders work with the Government to promote the UK’s excellence internationally and highlight trade and investment opportunities.

They focus on helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which sometimes face greater barriers to accessing global markets than larger businesses. The Prime Minister announced the creation of a Business Ambassadors Group in 2008.

The Business Ambassadors Group is coordinated by a dedicated secretariat, led by Don Bolessa, Head of the Business Ambassadors Secretariat.

When travelling overseas, Business Ambassadors will carry out priority meetings at request of the Government, including lobbying for market access or leading events for SMEs. They will also undertake dedicated overseas visits or lead UK trade missions for small businesses.

The Business Ambassadors offer a wealth of business experience and knowledge gained across a range of sectors and geographical markets.

UK Business Ambassadors unite to support the national export challenge.

You can also view the summary of Business Ambassadors events during 2011.

The Business Ambassadors

• Marcus Agius, former Group Chairman, Barclays Bank

• Sir Anthony Bamford, Chairman, JCB

• Sir Roger Bone, President, Boeing UK

• Samir Brikho, Chief Executive, AMEC

• Sir George Buckley, Chairman, Arle Capital

• Nick Fry, CEO, Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team

• Lucian Grainge, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Universal Music Group

• Professor Malcolm Grant, CBE, Provost and President, University College London

• Dr Hermann Hauser CBE FREng FRS, Co-Founder, Amadeus Capital Partners

• Anya Hindmarch MBE, CEO, Anya Hindmarch

• Brent Hoberman, Founder & Executive Chairman, mydeco.com

• Professor Dame Julia King DBE FREng, Vice-Chancellor, Aston University

• Saul Klein, Partner, Index Ventures (and founder Seedcamp)

• Sir Richard Lambert, Chancellor, University of Warwick

• Dr Mike Lynch OBE FREng, Founder, Autonomy

• Lord Jonathan Marland, Chairman of the Business Ambassadors Group

• Tamara Mellon OBE, Founder and former Chief Creative Officer, Jimmy Choo

• Dick Olver, Chairman, BAE Systems

• Alan Parker, Chairman, Brunswick Group

• Caroline Plumb, CEO, Freshminds

• Lord Charles Powell KCMG, Chairman, International Advisory Board, Rolls Royce

• Sir David Reid, Chairman, Intertek Group plc

• Joanna Shields, Chief Executive, Tech City Invesment Organisation

• Sir Kevin Smith, Partner, Unitas Capital

• Sir John Sorrell CBE, Chairman, London Design Festival & Co-Chair The Sorrell Foundation

• Robin Southwell, CEO, European Aeronautic Defence & Space Company (EADS) UK

• James Townshend, Chief Executive, Velcourt

• Paul Walsh, CEO, Diageo

• Brian Wilson PC, Chairman, Harris Tweed Hebrides & Chairman, Britain’s Energy Coast

For more information on the Business Ambassadors, contact Don Bolessa