Robert (Bob) Wigley, OStJ, BSc, HonDBA, FCA, CCMI, is chairman of
UK Finance
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...
, Vesta Global Holdings Ltd, Vizolution Ltd and is an investor, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is author of a book about the effects of technology on Gen Z, ''Born Digital: The Story of a Distracted generation''. He is a non-executive director of
Symphony Environmental Plc, the
Qatar Financial Centre and chairman of its audit committee. He is a Founding Global Britain Commissioner, member of the Trade Advisory Group for Financial Services at the
Department for International Trade
The Department for International Trade (DIT) is a department of His Majesty's Government responsible for striking and extending trade agreements between the United Kingdom and foreign countries, as well as for encouraging foreign investment and ...
and a member of the UK's Economic Crime Strategic Board, co-chaired by the Home Secretary and chancellor. He is an executive member of Seraphim Space Enterprise LLP. He is vice patron of the
RMA - the Royal Marines Charity, supporter and adviser to
St John Ambulance
St John Ambulance is the name of a number of affiliated organisations in different countries which teach and provide first aid and emergency medical services, and are primarily staffed by volunteers. The associations are overseen by the internat ...
's development team, and is a corporate board member of
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK (CRUK) is the world's largest independent cancer research organization. It is registered as a charity in the United Kingdom and Isle of Man, and was formed on 4 February 2002 by the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and t ...
. He sits on the
Panel on Takeovers and Mergers, on the Leadership Council of
TheCityUK
TheCityUK is a private-sector membership body and industry advocacy group promoting the financial and related professional services industry of the United Kingdom (UK). TheCityUK is often referred to as the industry's "most powerful" or "most pr ...
and on the advisory boards of Cap10 Partners LLP, Grant Thornton UK LLP, Privately SA, Remora Ltd, Ueni Ltd, Vidrate Ltd and VML Technologies Ltd. He is a visiting fellow of
Oxford University
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to th ...
's
Said Business School, an honorary fellow of Cambridge University's
Judge Business School
Cambridge Judge Business School is the business school of the University of Cambridge. The School is a provider of management education. It is named after Sir Paul Judge, a founding benefactor of the school.
The School is considered to be pa ...
and an adjunct professor at
The University of Queensland
, mottoeng = By means of knowledge and hard work
, established =
, endowment = A$224.3 million
, budget = A$2.1 billion
, type = Public research university
, chancellor = Peter Varghese
, vice_chancellor = Deborah Terry
, city = B ...
. He is an ambassador for
Nevill Holt Opera. He is a Fellow of the
Institute of Chartered Accountants, a Companion of the
Chartered Management Institute and has a business degree and an honorary doctorate from the
University of Bath
(Virgil, Georgics II)
, mottoeng = Learn the culture proper to each after its kind
, established = 1886 (Merchant Venturers Technical College) 1960 (Bristol College of Science and Technology) 1966 (Bath University of Technology) 1971 (univ ...
. He is also co-proprietor of Margot Restaurant in Covent Garden. He is an officer of the
Order of St. John. He is a Past Master and member of the Court Emeritus of the Worshipful Company of International Bankers.
Career
Between 2015 and 2022, he was Chairman of Bink (Loyalty Angels) Ltd. During 2021, he Co-Chaired the Cross Markets Operational Resilience Group at the Bank of England. Between 2014 and 2021 he was a board member of Queens Club Ltd and Chair of its Estates Committee. In 2019 he was appointed by the
Secretary of state for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport as a member of the Tailored Review panel for
Historic England
Historic England (officially the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England) is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It is tasked w ...
and
English Heritage
English Heritage (officially the English Heritage Trust) is a charity that manages over 400 historic monuments, buildings and places. These include prehistoric sites, medieval castles, Roman forts and country houses.
The charity states that i ...
. Between 2018 and 2019, Wigley was a Commissioner of the Blockchain Commission for Sustainable Development at the United Nations. During 2017, as Chairman of Victoria Beckham Ltd, he led an investment process securing £30m of venture capital to develop the business. Between 2012 and 2016, he was Chairman of First Global Trust Bank plc. Between 2010 and 2016 he was Chairman of Stonehaven Associates LLP. In 2015 and 2016, Wigley was an adviser to Exiger LLP. Between 2014 and 2016, he was Chairman of Tantalum Corporation plc. Between 2012 and 2016, Wigley was Chairman of NetOTC Services Ltd.
Between 2013 and 2017 Wigley was on the advisory board of Tetronics International Ltd. Between 2011 and 2018 he was a Trustee of the Peter Jones Foundation. Between 2013 and 2018 he chaired the More Music Campaign for the
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire established by royal charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, UK. It offers training from the undergraduate to the doctoral level in all aspects of Western Music including performanc ...
and sat on its Council. He was an ambassador for UK Business for Prime Minister
David Cameron in 2011.
He chaired the
UK Green Investment Bank Commission for the Chancellor of the Exchequer
George Osborne
George Gideon Oliver Osborne (born Gideon Oliver Osborne; 23 May 1971) is a former British politician and newspaper editor who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2010 to 2016 and as First Secretary of State from 2015 to 2016 in the ...
during 2009/2010. In 2008, he chaired a panel of London financial services company CEO's for the incoming Mayor of London,
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (; born 19 June 1964) is a British politician, writer and journalist who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2019 to 2022. He previously served as F ...
and produced a report on how to maintain London's global competitiveness and sat on the Mayor's Panel of Economic Advisers. In 2007, he authored a report for the Prime Minister on how to improve school governance, using lessons from the corporate world. He is a Past Master of the Court of the
Worshipful Company of International Bankers
The Worshipful Company of International Bankers is one of the livery companies of the City of London. Its members are current or former members of the financial services industry, primarily banking. It is based in a building in Austin Friars, n ...
. Between 2011 and 2014, he was a member of the international advisory board of
British Airways
British Airways (BA) is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom. It is headquartered in London, England, near its main hub at Heathrow Airport.
The airline is the second largest UK-based carrier, based on fleet size and passengers ...
.
He was a non executive director of
Royal Mail Group
, kw, Postya Riel, ga, An Post Ríoga
, logo = Royal Mail.svg
, logo_size = 250px
, type = Public limited company
, traded_as =
, foundation =
, founder = Henry VIII
, location = London, England, UK
, key_people = * Keith Williams ...
plc and Chairman of its Audit Committee for 3 years. Between 2006 and 2009, Wigley was a member of the Court of the
Bank of England and of its Risk policy and Audit Committees. Between 2009 and 2014, he served as Chairman of
Yell Group
Hibu Inc. (styled hibü), formerly Yellowbook Inc., is a provider of digital marketing and advertising solutions to small- and medium-sized businesses across the US. Hibu’s specialties includes web development and hosting, digital listings and ...
plc (subsequently renamed Hibu plc) and of Expansys plc until they were both taken private. Hibu subsequently entered into administration to facilitate a consensual restructuring with its bondholders. Between 2009 and 2011, Wigley was the European Financial Services Operating Partner of
Advent International
Advent International is a global private equity firm focused on buyouts of companies in Western and Central Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia. The firm focuses on international buyouts, growth and strategic restructuring in five core ...
.
Between 2008 and 2011, he served as Chairman of the National Education Employer Partnership Taskforce. From 2009 until its takeover by
Grainger plc
Grainger plc is a British-based residential property business. It is headquartered in Newcastle upon Tyne and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.
History
The business was established by the Dickinson family in 1912 as the ''Grainger Trust'' ...
in 2010, Wigley was Chairman of Sovereign Reversions plc. Between 2004 and 2010, he was deputy chairman of
Business in the Community
Business in the Community (BITC) is a British business-community outreach charity promoting responsible business, CSR, corporate responsibility, and is one of the Prince's Charities of King Charles III (formerly the Prince of Wales).
BITC work ...
(the UK's leading corporate social responsibility organisation). Previous roles included serving as a Trustee of Terence Conran's Design Museum for seven years and a trustee of
Whizz-Kidz for six years.
In January 2009, Wigley resigned as Chair of
Merrill Lynch Europe, Middle East and Africa following the completion of its takeover by
Bank of America
The Bank of America Corporation (often abbreviated BofA or BoA) is an American multinational investment bank and financial services holding company headquartered at the Bank of America Corporate Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The bank ...
.
Since 2004, Wigley had chaired Merrill Lynch's EMEA Region Executive Committee with responsibility for a business with $6bn of revenue, $3bn of pretax income and 8,000 employees in 23 countries.
He sat on Merrill Lynch's Global Operating Committee and Client Coverage Council.
During this time, he was a member of the Senior Practitioner Committee of the
Financial Services Authority, the FSA's nominated representative on the Market Consultative Panel of the
Committee of European Securities Regulators
The Committee of European Securities Regulators (CESR) was an independent committee of European Securities regulators in the Lamfalussy process established by the European Commission on June 6, 2001.
The role of this committee was to
* Improve th ...
, sat on the boards of
LCH.Clearnet plc (Chairing its nomination committee) and
Euroclear
Euroclear is a Belgium-based financial services company that specializes in the settlement of securities transactions, as well as the safekeeping and asset servicing of these securities. It was founded in 1968 as part of J.P. Morgan & Co. to settl ...
plc (and its strategy committee), was a member of the Chancellor's "wise men" group representing key financial stakeholders in London, was a member of the chairman's Committee of the
London Investment Banking Association,
a member of the
Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (and its remuneration committee) and on the EU Advisory Panel of the
City of London Corporation
The City of London Corporation, officially and legally the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London, is the municipal governing body of the City of London, the historic centre of London and the location of much of the United King ...
.
Previous roles at Merrill Lynch included Chairman of European Investment Banking, Global Head of Telecoms, Media and Technology Investment Banking, Head of UK Investment Banking and Head of Corporate Broking.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wigley, Bob
Living people
Merrill (company) people
People educated at Exeter School
Year of birth missing (living people)