Bob Wigley
Robert (Bob) Wigley | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robert Wigley |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, investor, entrepreneur, professor |
| Years active | Active at least since 2004 to present |
| Known for | Chairman of UK Finance; Non-Executive Director of R3 LLC and Lightico Ltd; Honorary Professor at King's College London; Author of Born Digital |
Robert (Bob) Wigley, OStJ, BSc, HonDBA, FCA, CCMI, holds the position of Chairman at UK Finance and serves as a Non-Executive Director for both R3 LLC and Lightico Ltd. He is an Executive Member of Seraphim Space Enterprise LLP and is actively involved as an investor and entrepreneur. Wigley is also an Honorary Professor at the Digital Futures Institute of King's College London and authored the book Born Digital: The Story of a Distracted Generation. Additionally, he acts as a non-executive director for the Qatar Financial Centre and has fulfilled roles such as Founding Global Britain Commissioner, member of the Trade Advisory Group for Financial Services at the Department for International Trade, and contributor to both the UK's Economic Crime Strategic Board and Economic Security Public Private Forum.
His education was completed at Exeter School through a grant provided by the local authority.
Wigley holds the role of Vice-Patron at the RMA - the Royal Marines Charity, advises St John Ambulance (England), and sits on the corporate board of Cancer Research UK. He participates on the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers, is part of TheCityUK’s Leadership Council, and contributes to advisory boards including Cap10 Partners LLP and Grant Thornton UK LLP. His academic affiliations include being a visiting fellow at Oxford University's Saïd Business School and an honorary fellow at Cambridge University's Judge Business School. He is a fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales and the Chartered Management Institute, holds a business degree alongside an honorary doctorate from the University of Bath, and co-owns Margot Restaurant located in Covent Garden. Furthermore, he is an officer within the Order of St. John and has served as Past Master of the Worshipful Company of International Bankers.
Career
Between 2020 and 2023, Wigley held an adjunct professorship at the University of Queensland. He led Vizolution Ltd as chairman until its acquisition by Lightico Ltd during 2021–2023. His directorships included serving as Non-Executive Director at Symphony Environmental Technologies plc from 2015 to 2023, Chairmanship at Vesta Global Holdings Ltd between 2017 and 2023, leadership at Bink (Loyalty Angels) Ltd from 2015 to 2022, as well as advisory roles for Ueni Ltd (2020–2022) and Privately SA (2019–2023). In 2021, he co-chaired the Bank of England’s Cross Markets Operational Resilience Group. He was a board member of Queens Club Ltd from 2014 to 2021, chairing its estates committee. Appointed in 2019 by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, he contributed to the Tailored Review panel for Historic England and English Heritage. From 2018 to 2019, he served as a commissioner on the UN Blockchain Commission for Sustainable Development.
In his role as chairman of Victoria Beckham Ltd in 2017, Wigley spearheaded a £30 million venture capital funding round. He chaired First Global Trust Bank plc between 2012 and 2016; Stonehaven Associates LLP from 2010 to 2016; Tantalum Corporation plc during 2014–2016; NetOTC Services Ltd from 2012 to 2016; and provided advisory services to Exiger LLP in 2015–2016. Between 2013 and 2017, he was part of Tetronics International Ltd’s advisory board and acted as trustee for the Peter Jones Foundation from 2011 to 2018. From 2013 through 2018, he chaired the More Music Campaign associated with the Royal College of Music.
Wigley was appointed UK Business Ambassador under Prime Minister David Cameron in 2011 and led the UK Green Investment Bank Commission for Chancellor George Osborne during 2009–2010. In 2008, he headed a panel advising Mayor Boris Johnson on strategies to sustain London's status as a global financial hub. A report authored by him in 2007 focused on enhancing school governance by applying corporate management principles. He is also Past Master of the Court at the Worshipful Company of International Bankers.
From 2011 until 2014, he was a member of British Airways’ international advisory board. His tenure at Royal Mail Group plc included serving as non-executive director and chairing its audit committee for three years. Between 2006 and 2009, Wigley sat on the Court of the Bank of England, contributing to both its Risk Policy Committee and Audit Committee. He chaired both Yell Group plc (later Hibu plc) and Expansys plc from 2009 until their privatizations in 2014; Hibu subsequently entered administration to restructure with bondholders. His experience includes acting as European Financial Services Operating Partner at Advent International between 2009 and 2011, chairing the National Education Employer Partnership Taskforce from 2008 to 2011, leading Sovereign Reversions plc until its acquisition by Grainger plc in 2010, and serving as deputy chairman of Business in the Community from 2004 through 2010.
In January 2009, following its acquisition by Bank of America, Wigley stepped down as Chair for Merrill Lynch's Europe, Middle East, and Africa division. Since taking leadership in 2004, he oversaw Merrill Lynch’s EMEA Region Executive Committee managing $6 billion in revenue, $3 billion pretax income, and a workforce numbering approximately 8,000 across twenty-three countries. His responsibilities extended to participation on Merrill Lynch’s Global Operating Committee and Client Coverage Council.
His previous positions include membership on the Financial Services Authority's Senior Practitioner Committee; representation on European securities regulatory bodies; board appointments at LCH.Clearnet plc and Euroclear plc; involvement with London's financial stakeholder groups including LIBA’s chairman’s committee; participation on both the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers along with its remuneration committee; plus advisory roles linked to the City of London Corporation.
During his tenure at Merrill Lynch, Wigley held several senior roles including Chairman of European Investment Banking; Global Head of Telecoms, Media & Technology Investment Banking; Head of UK Investment Banking; and Head of Corporate Broking.
