Former TV executive scores a first at CBI

A FORMER BBC and ITV executive has been appointed as the first woman director general of the CBI.

Carolyn Fairbairn, 54, has also worked as a journalist, economist and management consultant. She holds a number of non-executive director posts with firms including Capita and Lloyds Banking Group, as well as t he Competition and Markets Authority and the UK Statistics Authority.

She will step down from the roles, apart from remaining a trustee of the charity Marie Curie, when she takes over from John Cridland in November.

Ms Fairbairn was previously a director of strategy at both the BBC and ITV and a member of 10 Downing Street’s policy unit, advising on health and social services from 1995 to 1997.

She said: “The debate around UK’s relationship with the European Union and the productivity challenge facing our economy will be two of the defining issues of the next few years. I look forward to representing the voice of British businesses of all sizes on these questions and many others.”

There were 46 candidates for the job, with a final shortlist of six.

CBI president Sir Mike Rake said: “Carolyn is a remarkable business leader with an impressive background as an economist, journalist, management consultant and policy strategist.

“Her CV speaks for itself. Her wealth and breadth of experience will be critical in steering the CBI through choppy p ol it i c a l and economic waters, including an EU referendum.”

Former Economist Group chief Helen Alexander was the CBI’s first female president in 2009.

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