Marc Bolland

Marc Bolland was born in the Netherlands in 1959 and graduated with an MBA from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. In November 2011, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of York, in the UK.

He began his professional career at Heineken N.V. in 1987 as a Management trainee. During his first 14 years he occupied several international management positions. He served as an Executive board member of Heineken N.V. from 2001 to 2006 and as Chief Operating Officer of Heineken N.V. from 2005 to July 2006.

In 2006 he was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of WM Morrison Supermarkets plc, where he led the turnaround after the acquisition of Safeway plc until April 2010.

In May 2010 he joined the board of Marks and Spencer plc was Chief Executive Officer until April 2016. He led the transformation of Marks and Spencer to become a Multi-channel, General Merchandise Retailer and developed the Food business with industry leading growth.

In September 2016 he joined the Blackstone Group International Partners LLP as Operating Partner and Head of European Portfolio Operations.

He is currently a Non-Executive Director of the Coca-Cola company board, Atlanta USA and NonExecutive Director on the Board of IAG (Parent company of British Airways). He is Vice President at Unicef UK. He is a Trustee on the Board of the Royal Academy of Arts. He was elected Vice Chairman of the Consumer Goods Forum in 2014. He was appointed by HRH Prince Wales his personal National Ambassador and was appointed by the Prime Minister as a British Business Ambassador.