Nigel Rudd

Sir Nigel Rudd was founding Chairman of BGF from February 2011, when the company was established, to June 2020. He is now an Adviser to the company.

Sir Nigel is best known as founder of Williams plc, which went on to become one of the largest industrial holding companies in the United Kingdom until its demerger in November 2000, creating Chubb plc and Kidde plc.

Sir Nigel is currently Chairman of Signature Aviation plc, Meggitt PLC and Sappi Limited. He has been Chairman of some of the largest companies in the UK including BAA Limited which later became Heathrow Limited, Invensys, Pilkington, Alliance Boots and the UK’s largest car retailer, Pendragon plc.

He was a Non-Executive Director of Barclays PLC for 13 years, latterly as Deputy Chairman. Sir Nigel was knighted in 1996 for services to manufacturing. He has a long record as an active angel investor in small and medium-sized businesses.