News story

The Prime Minister has appointed Mark Cecil and The Rt Hon Chris Grayling as Trustees of the National Portrait Gallery

Mark Cecil and The Rt Hon Chris Grayling have been appointed by the Prime Minister as Trustees of the National Portrait Gallery for four years from 11 May 2020 to 10th May 2024.

Mark Cecil

Mark Cecil had a 34 year career in Investment management, being a founding partner of Jabre Capital Partners from 2007 - 2019. He currently acts as an investment advisor to several Family Offices.

Mark qualified as a Medical Doctor from St Thomas’s Hospital Medical school in 1982 before obtaining an MBA from INSEAD business school in 1985. He was a founding Patron of the National Portrait Gallery and has sat on the Development Council for several years and more recently the Campaign Council.

The Rt Hon Chris Grayling

Rt Hon Chris Grayling has previously been an active Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery. He served on the Board as an ex-officio member when he was Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons in 2015-16. He is a former Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Transport.

He has been Member of Parliament for Epsom and Ewell in Surrey since 2001. Prior to entering Parliament he was a television news producer and director of a number of production and communication businesses.

He has also written a number of history books, including on life in England after the First World War and Anglo-American relations.

These roles are not remunerated. These appointments have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments, the process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The Government’s Governance Code requires that any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years is declared. This is defined as holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation or candidature for election. Mark Cecil has not declared any activity, Chris Grayling has declared that he is a serving Conservative Member of Parliament.

Published 26 May 2020