Denise Wilson OBE

Denise is Chief Executive of the Government sponsored FTSE Women Leaders Review, and prior to that was Chief Executive of the predecessor Hampton-Alexander and Davies Reviews, a role she has held since 2014. She leads the UK’s business-led voluntary framework, effort and task force to increase the number of women on FTSE 350 Boards, and in Leadership positions.

She recently served on the Board of Ecclesiastical Insurance Group for eight years, was Chair of the Remuneration Committee and Audit Committee member. She was also Chair of the Royal Academy of Arts Friends Board for many years and has served on several corporate and charitable boards.

Denise began her early career with the Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group, before moving into the energy sector where she worked for British Gas, BG Group Plc and National Grid Plc.

During her career, she was the Head of Insurance & Risk Management, and subsequently Director of Investor Relations at BG Group Plc. She led the Global Audit function at National Grid Plc, with responsibility for UK and US Audit operations. She then set up a new Shared Services Division in the UK, and later became Director of Commercial, Pricing & Customer operations. As Global Transformation Director, she was responsible for the program to standardize technology, process and workplace culture across UK and US operations, working in New York, India and South America.

Denise currently sits on the board of the University of Hull, is a mentor to senior leaders in the business and charitable sectors, an advocate for sound corporate governance and diversity in leadership.

She is a graduate in Modern Languages, qualified FCII and was awarded an OBE in the 2016 for services to women in business, and an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Hull in 2018.