Chairman of the Board of Directors play a crucial role in any startup. It takes an extraordinary person to fulfil the Chairman of the Board of Directors role. We have selected these Chairman of the Board of Directors’s for this list as they are inspiring for a variety of reasons – whether that’s pushing boundaries, creating groundbreaking products, or doing their bit to save the world.
Our analysts did their best to select be best, and most innovative Chairman of the Board of Directors’s. The list is in no particular order!
Robert Milton
Chairman of the Board of Directors @ United Airlines
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Robert Milton is a Member of the Board of Directors at United Continental Holdings Inc. since April 2016. Robert was Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of ACE Aviation Holdings Inc. and was Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada. Having joined Air Canada in 1992 in a consulting capacity, Robert moved from the role of Senior Director of Scheduling to Vice President of Scheduling and Product Management, Senior Vice President of Marketing and In-Flight Service and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Robert became President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada in 1999. Robert is currently the Lead Director of Air Lease Corporation, a Member of the Board of Directors of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and a Trustee of the Georgia Tech Foundation Inc. Robert was a past Member of the Board of Directors of US Airways, Inc., and was also a past Chairman of the Board of Governors of IATA (The International Air Transport Association). Robert graduated in 1983 from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Industrial Management.
Learn more about Robert Milton on Crunchbase… Read more about United Airlines on Crunchbase…
Mike Parton
Chairman of the Board of Directors @ Arqiva
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Mike brings a wealth of relevant experience from the telecoms and technology industry to Arqiva. Mike started his career as a Chartered Management Accountant, working for a number of UK technology companies including ICL, GEC, STC and Marconi. He moved into General Management in 1995 at Marconi, and became CEO in 2001. Between 2001 and 2006 Mike was CEO of Marconi before overseeing a sale of the company to Ericsson. In 2007, Mike became Chairman of Damovo and joined the Board of Tele2, becoming Chairman there in 2010. Mike stepped down from the Board of Damovo in 2015 following a sale of the company.
Learn more about Mike Parton on Crunchbase…Arqiva is a communications infrastructure and media services company. Read more about Arqiva on Crunchbase…
John Farrell
Chairman of the Board of Directors @ Four Communications
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John Former president and CEO of Publicis Groupe Specialised Agencies and Marketing Services (SAMS), John is an expert in marketing, communications and advertising.Prior to his position at the Publicis Groupe, John was president and CEO of D’Arcy Worldwide, one of the top ten global advertising and communications networks. John has a career spanning more than 20 years and has provided consultancy services to businesses including The European Golf Tour, Saatchi & Saatchi and Leagas Delaney. John also serves in non-executive/chairman positions for several advertising, media, marketing services and retail businesses.John received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Studies from Nottingham Trent University, UK, and has received numerous industry awards. He is a member of various industry bodies on both sides of the Atlantic.
Learn more about John Farrell on Crunchbase…Four is a leading independent, integrated communications agency with offices in London and the Gulf. Read more about Four Communications on Crunchbase…
Chris Bell
Chairman of the Board of Directors @ XLMedia
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Read more about XLMedia on Crunchbase…
George Theobald
Chairman of the Board of Directors @ Flame Tree Group
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George Theobald is a Non-executive Director at FTG Holdings and currently the Chairman of the board. George has been the driving force behind the growth of a number of East African companies spread out across various sectors. George has lived in East Africa since 1983, after a commission in the British Army and a time in London working as a stockbroker. He worked as the General Manager of Lonrho Tanzania Ltd before founding Tatepa Ltd, where he serves as the Managing Director of the publically listed company (the largest smallholder tea and avocado producer in Tanzania). He is also the Chairman of Kariki Group (a group of flower farms) in Kenya and the Chairman of Nomad Group (a chain of safari lodges) in Tanzania.
Learn more about George Theobald on Crunchbase… Read more about Flame Tree Group on Crunchbase…
Roy Franklin
Chairman of the Board of Directors @ Cuadrilla
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Roy Franklin is the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors at Statoil since June 2015. Roy was a Member of the Board of Directors at StatoilHydro from October 2007 and Statoil from November 2009 until June 2013. Roy has previously been the chair of both the board’s safety, sustainability and ethics committee and the board’s audit committee. Roy was also previously a Member of the Board of Directors at StatoilHydro from October 2007 and Statoil from November 2009 until June 2013. Roy is also a Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors at Keller Group plc, a London-based international engineering company and Cuadrilla Resources Holdings Limited, a privately held UK company focusing on unconventional energy sources. Roy is also a Member of the Board of Directors at the Australian oil and gas company Santos Ltd., the private equity firm Kerogen Capital Ltd. and the London-based international engineering company Amec Foster Wheeler. A geologist by training, Roy has over 40 years experience in the oil and gas industry. Roy spent 18 years in various exploration and management positions with BP, before leaving to join Clyde Petroleum plc, where he became Group Managing Director in 1994. Roy subsequently became Chief Executive Officer at Paladin Resources plc, a position he held until the company’s sale to Talisman in 2006. Roy earned his Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Southampton, UK. In 2004, Roy was awarded an Order of the British Empire in recognition of his services to the oil and gas industry. Roy is the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Cuardrilla since April 2015, having joined the board of Cuadrilla Resources in 2012.
Learn more about Roy Franklin on Crunchbase…Cuadrilla is owned exploration and production company. Read more about Cuadrilla on Crunchbase…
David Rasche
Chairman of the Board of Directors @ GB Group
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Appointed to the Board in September 2010. He was the founder of SSP Holdings Limited, one of the largest specialist insurance software houses in the world. David has over 40 years IT industry experience with over 35 years at board level in the software and services sectors. He is also Non-Executive Chairman of Onyx Group.
Learn more about David Rasche on Crunchbase…GB Group offers a series of solutions that help organisations quickly validate and verify the identity and location of their customers. Read more about GB Group on Crunchbase…
John Hughes
Chairman of the Board of Directors @ Spectris
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John Hughes CBE has more than 30 years’ experience leading global, high-technology businesses. He has significant experience of managing growth companies, especially those supplying complex solutions and services to business customers and the development of leadership teams. He previously held senior executive positions at Thales Group, Lucent Technologies and Hewlett Packard, and was non-executive chairman of Intec Telecom Systems plc, a non-executive director of Chloride Group plc and the Vitec Group plc. Until 2015 he was executive chairman of Sepura plc. In 2016 he stepped down as executive chairman of Telecity Group plc. Non-executive chairman of Just Eat plc. Non-executive director of CSG International Inc. and Equinix Inc. (both NASDAQ-listed companies). Ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society.
Learn more about John Hughes on Crunchbase…Spectris is a supplier of productivity-enhancing instrumentation and controls. Read more about Spectris on Crunchbase…
Paul Vickery
Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors @ Silicon MicroGravity
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Paul Vickery is the Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors at Silicon Microgravity since September 2014. Paul is an experienced Board Director with a background in private equity / venture capital and as an entrepreneur. Paul is the Founder of four university spin outs from Oxford University, Cambridge University, Imperial College and Surrey University; acting as Chairman in three companies and raising a total of £25m over multiple investment rounds. Paul has invested in the oil and gas sector and has extensive experience of serving as a Director in early stage, energy-related companies. As an Investor Paul was a Member of the Board of Directors of 3i plc and led 3i’s activities in Japan as Senior Managing Director. Paul has a B.Sc. in Production Engineering from University of Strathclyde and a Diploma in Japanese Business Studies.
Learn more about Paul Vickery on Crunchbase…Silicon MicroGravity is a company developing novel sensor technology. Read more about Silicon MicroGravity on Crunchbase…
Dennis Millard
Chairman of the Board of Directors @ Connect Group
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Dennis’ former appointments include Chairman of Connect Group plc, Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director of Premier Farnell plc, Chief Financial Officer of Cookson Group plc, Finance Director of Medeva plc and a member of the Economic Affairs Committee of the CBI. Dennis has a broad commercial and financial experience in the retail, service, distribution and manufacturing sectors in the UK and internationally. Dennis is a member of the South African Instituted of Chartered Accountants and holds an MBA from the University of Cape Town.
Learn more about Dennis Millard on Crunchbase… Read more about Connect Group on Crunchbase…
Nick Burns
Chairman of the Board of Directors @ Capita Employee Benefits
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Nick has been a pioneer in the Employee Benefits industry for over 25 years. He created and led Bluefin Corporate Consulting, a new challenger brand in the sector. He then led the merger of Bluefin with Capita Hartshead to create Capita Employee Benefits which is now the world’s largest UK–owned Employee Benefits organisation.
Learn more about Nick Burns on Crunchbase…Capita Employee Benefits which is now the world’s largest UK–owned Employee Benefits organisation. Read more about Capita Employee Benefits on Crunchbase…
Godfrey Ainsworth
Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors @ IQE
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Godfrey Ainsworth qualified as a Chartered Accountant and was employed by Coopers & Lybrand before becoming an audit partner and then corporate finance partner with Spicer & Oppenheim. He founded Gambit Corporate Finance in 1992, a practice specialising in the provision of corporate finance services where he was Managing Partner until his retirement from the firm on 30 November 2009. He has held several Non-Executive Directorship appointments, including assignments for 3i plc and the Welsh Development Agency. He has provided advice to IQE (formerly EPI) since its inception and was appointed to the Board in 1997. He was appointed to the Board of IQE Plc in April 1999, and was appointed chairman in February 2002.
Learn more about Godfrey Ainsworth on Crunchbase…IQE is the global leader in the design and manufacture of advanced semiconductor wafer products. Read more about IQE on Crunchbase…
John Pluthero
Chairman of the Board of Directors @ MyAppConverter
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Mobile Application Code Conversion Read more about MyAppConverter on Crunchbase…
Lord Rothermere
Chairman of the Board of Directors @ DMG Media
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Lord Rothermere has been Chairman of DMGT and a Non-Executive Director of Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC since 1998. Lord Rothermere worked at the International Herald Tribune in Paris and the Mirror Group before moving to Northcliffe Newspapers Group in 1995. In 1997 Lord Rothermere became Managing Director of the Evening Standard.
Learn more about Lord Rothermere on Crunchbase…DMG media is a consumer media company engaged in print and online newspaper publishing. Read more about DMG Media on Crunchbase…
John Armitt
Chairman of the Board of Directors @ National Express Group
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Sir John Armitt is chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority, the body responsible for the venues, infrastructure and transport for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Since November 2012 he has also been a member of the Airports Commission, which is to present options to the government to maintain the UK’s status as an international hub for aviation. Sir John has extensive experience in the construction and transport sectors. Previously, he was chief executive of Network Rail (2002–2007) and of Railtrack plc (from 2001). From 1986 to 1993 he was chairman of Laing’s international and civil engineering divisions, a company he joined as a graduate in 1966. From 1993 to 1997 he was chief executive of Union Railways, the company responsible for development of the high-speed Channel Tunnel rail link. In 1997 he became chief executive of Costain, a position he held until 2001. Sir John is chairman of National Express Group and of City and Guilds. He is also deputy chairman of the Berkeley Group and a member of the board of Transport for London. He is a former chairman of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and vice-president of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
Learn more about John Armitt on Crunchbase…National Express is one of the most recognised brands in the UK. Read more about National Express Group on Crunchbase…
Jeremy Gibbs
Non-Executive Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors @ Scientific Digital Imaging (SDI)
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Jeremy Gibbs is a Non-Executive Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors at Scientific Digital Imaging (SDI) since June 2008. Jeremy was a Chief Executive Officer at Adaptivity Limited, a corporate finance boutique. Jeremy’s early career saw him obtaining management and consultancy positions in British Rail Engineering Limited, Edwards High Vacuum International and The BOC Group plc, all engineering or technology driven companies. Jeremy was a Non-Executive Member of the Board of Directors at Futuremedia plc from 1997 to 2001 and its Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1998 to 2001. Futuremedia was listed on NASDAQ. Jeremy was a Member of the Board of Directors at Synoptics from 2001 to 2008. Jeremy graduated (B.A. & M.A.) from Oxford University in 1978 in Engineering Science, subsequently qualifying as a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and Chartered Electrical Engineer.
Learn more about Jeremy Gibbs on Crunchbase…Scientific Digital Imaging designs and manufactures digital imaging technology. Read more about Scientific Digital Imaging (SDI) on Crunchbase…
Martin Burke
Founding Member of the Board of Directors & Chairman of the Board of Directors @ Exception
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Martin is a founding director of Exception and also serves as chairman. His responsibilities include strategic development of the business, consulting services, digital, and technology delivery. Martin is also responsible for Waracle, an Exception Group company, who provide mobile app solutions and services. Having worked on both the client and service side of the industry throughout his career, Martin has extensive experience of technology transformation across a number of sectors.
Learn more about Martin Burke on Crunchbase…Exception is an IT Consultancy and Services company that collaborates with many of the UK’s largest companies and Government organisations. Read more about Exception on Crunchbase…
Philip Rowley
Chairman of the Board of Directors @ Livestation
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Philip Rowley joined the Board in January 2005 and will be retiring at the 2014 AGM. He was Chairman and CEO of AOL Europe, the internet services and web brands provider until February 2007 and Chairman of HMV Group plc until early 2013. He is a qualified chartered accountant and was Group Finance Director of Kingfisher plc from 1998 to 2000 and Deputy CEO and CFO of the General Merchandise Division until 2001. Prior to that, his roles included EVP, Chief Financial Officer of EMI Music Worldwide.
Learn more about Philip Rowley on Crunchbase…Livestation is an online platform that distributes live television and radio broadcasts over a data network. Read more about Livestation on Crunchbase…
William Knight
Chairman of the Board of Directors @ Myanmar Investments International (MIL)
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Read more about Myanmar Investments International (MIL) on Crunchbase…
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