Rona Fairhead, Chairman

It is a huge privilege to be able to represent the interests of audiences

About Rona

Rona was Chairman and CEO of the Financial Times Group from 2006 – 2013, having previously been Group Finance Director of its parent company, Pearson plc. Prior to joining Pearson, Rona held a variety of senior positions in financial and global businesses including ICI plc, where she served as Executive Vice President of Strategy and Group Financial Control, and at Bombardier Inc., where she was General Manager of UK Aerospace Services.

She is currently on the Board of PepsiCo Inc. and was a Board member of HSBC Holdings plc and non-executive Chairman of HSBC Northern American Holdings Inc from 2004 – 2016.

Rona has an MA in Law from St Catharine’s College, Cambridge and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She is married with three children and lives in London.
In 2012 Rona was awarded a CBE for services to industry.

Rona says:

"I can’t think of many more important organisations to work for than the BBC. It remains one of the great British institutions, respected around the world and much loved at home. It is a huge privilege to be able to represent the interests of audiences and to help ensure the BBC maintains its reputation for quality and innovation, its editorial independence, and its critical role in supporting the UK creative sector as a whole."