Long-serving deputy is picked as leader of CBI
Nov 16 2010 by Peter McCusker, The Journal
THE deputy director general of the CBI was named as the business group's new leader yesterday.
John Cridland will take over as director general at the end of January, when Richard Lambert steps down after five years in the post.
A long list of 45 candidates, including nine women, was whittled down to 18, before it was narrowed to six lead contenders – five men and one woman.
CBI President Helen Alexander said: “With all eyes on the business community to lead our country’s economic recovery, the role of CBI director general has never been more important.
“The nomination panel and I were looking for someone with an extraordinary mix of communication, influencing, intellectual and leadership skills.
“We wanted someone with a proven track record, a firm understanding of public policy and a passion for business. The candidate also needed a clear vision of how the CBI needs to work with the Government and wider society to achieve growth and economic stability.
“His motivation, energy and appetite for change meant that John Cridland was, without doubt, the best person for the job.
“As deputy director general, he has been Richard’s right hand man and an invaluable chief operating officer. He has been instrumental in helping to shape business and public attitudes on issues ranging from the minimum wage and flexible working, to industrial relations and the environment.
Mr Cridland said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been chosen to lead the CBI at this critical time for business.
“There are many challenges ahead in getting the economy growing, and no one thinks that securing the UK’s economic future will be easy, but business people across the country are rolling up their sleeves and getting on with the job.
“Under my leadership, the CBI will be working to create high-quality, workable solutions that promote competition and allow all businesses, both new and established, to thrive and prosper, serve their customers, and create jobs.
“I strongly believe that a combination of innovation, dynamism and plain hard graft will help re-build the UK’s international reputation and ensure that the UK is the best place to invest.”
Mr Cridland, 49, was educated at Boston Grammar School and has an MA in history from Christ’s College, Cambridge. He joined the CBI as a policy adviser in 1982 and became the CBI’s youngest-ever director in 1991, when he took over the environmental affairs brief. He moved on to human resources policy in 1995, and has been deputy director-general since 2000.
Former CBI director general Lord Digby Jones said: “John’s knowledge, experience, popularity, contacts and prodigious hard work and application to the task will make an enormous contribution to the country in the hard years ahead. He was an excellent deputy director general to me, and then to Richard Lambert.”
Justin King, chief executive of supermarket giant Sainsbury’s, said: “I’ve known John for as long as I’ve been involved with the CBI, and am delighted to see him step up to the top job to lead the organisation at this particularly challenging time.”
Mr Cridland will be appointed for a five-year term at the end of January 2011 and will be paid a salary of £310,000.
Business Secretary Vince Cable welcomed the appointment, saying: “John is highly respected by both Government and the business community and I look forward to working closely with him.”
