Zarin Patel

Zarin was appointed to the National Trust’s Board of Trustees in September 2018. She was the BBC’s Chief Financial Officer and member of its Board from 2004 to 2013 during which time she helped to transform the BBC into a fully digital broadcaster. Zarin led the BBC’s TV Licensing operation responsible for engaging with 26 million UK households. She also led the Digital Switchover Help Scheme which helped older and vulnerable people to convert to digital TV.

Zarin spent 16 years at KPMG working on FTSE quoted conglomerates in a variety of sectors. She is currently a non-executive at John Lewis Partnership plc and HM Treasury where she sits on their respective Audit & Risk Committees. She was previously a Governor at The University of Arts, London and chaired the Audit & Risk Committee.

Having worked at the BBC, Zarin understands the unique and important role that an institution like the National Trust plays in the nation’s life. And, personally, the National Trust has played a valuable part in helping her family, as first-generation immigrants in the 1970s, to understand and appreciate their adopted home in all its physical beauty and its history.