Vernon Ellis
{{short description|British arts governance executive and philanthropist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Sir Vernon Ellis
| image = Vernon Ellis.jpg
| office = Chair of the British Council
| term_start = 2010
| term_end = 2016
| predecessor = The Lord Kinnock
| successor = Christopher Rodrigues
| birth_name = Vernon James Ellis
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1947|07|01}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| nationality = British
| known_for = Accenture; British Council; arts governance and philanthropy
| networth =
| alma_mater = Magdalen College, Oxford
| spouse = {{marriage|Hazel Marilyn Lucas|1972}}
| children = One son and one daughter
| residence = London
}}
Sir Vernon James Ellis (born 1 July 1947) was the chair of the British Council from 2010 to 2016.{{cite web|title=British Council appoints Christopher Rodrigues CBE as Chair|url=https://www.britishcouncil.org/organisation/press/british-council-appoints-christopher-rodrigues-cbe-chair|accessdate=23 November 2016}}
Education
Ellis was educated at Magdalen College School, before going to Magdalen College, Oxford, to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE). He graduated in 1969 and became a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (FCA) in 1973.
Career
Ellis worked at Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting) from 1969, becoming a Partner in 1979, Managing Partner (UK) 1986–89,{{cite web|url=http://www.nikkei.co.jp/hensei/ngmf2000/pdf/gm_web/file/eris_e.html |title=The 2nd Nikkei Global Management Forum |publisher=Nikkei.co.jp |accessdate=1 October 2012}} Managing Partner EMEAI 1989–2000 and International Chairman 2000–08. He was a Senior Adviser to Accenture 2008–10.{{cite web|url=http://www.bridgesventures.com/personnel/vernon-ellis |title=Vernon Ellis |publisher=Bridges Ventures |accessdate=1 October 2012}} Whilst at Accenture, he was involved with business school advisory boards at IMD, INSEAD and Oxford.{{cite web|url=http://www.oldwaynfletes.org/page/VEllis |title=Sir Vernon Ellis |publisher=Old Waynfletes |accessdate=1 October 2012}} From 2001 to 2005 he was Chair of the Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum; Council, World Economic Forum, 1999–2001; deputy chair, Mayor of Seoul's International Business Advisory Council; UK private sector delegate, G8 Digital Opportunities Task Force, 2000–02.
Ellis has been a director of FTI Consulting Inc. since 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fticonsulting.com/our-people/sir-vernon-ellis|title=Sir Vernon Ellis {{!}} Audit Committee Member {{!}} FTI Consulting|website=www.fticonsulting.com|access-date=18 February 2020}} He was Chair of One Medical Group from 2010 to 2019{{Cite web|url=https://www.onemedicalgroup.co.uk/onemedicalgroup/our-people/meet-our-board.html|title=Meet Our Board|website=One Medical Group|access-date=22 January 2020}} and has been Chair of Martin Randall Travel since 2008.
In April 2010 he succeeded Lord Kinnock as Chair of the British Council.
Arts and philanthropy
Ellis has been involved in many musical organisations, especially serving as Chairman of English National Opera 2005–12{{cite web|url=http://www.britishcouncil.org/organisation/people/board-trustees/sir-vernon-ellis|title=Sir Vernon Ellis|work=britishcouncil.org}} (President 2012–).{{cite web|url=http://www.eno.org/explore/about-eno/people/board.php |title=Board |publisher=Eno.org |accessdate=1 October 2012}} He was Chair of Classical Opera from 1996 to 2009 (currently President); Chair of the National Opera Studio 2012–19;{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationaloperastudio.org.uk/news/the-national-opera-studio-welcomes-new-chair-of-trustees|title=The National Opera Studio Welcomes New Chair of Trustees|website=National Opera Studio|access-date=22 January 2020}} Chair of the Leeds International Piano Competition, succeeding Dame Fanny Waterman, 2015–19;{{Cite web|url=https://www.rhinegold.co.uk/classical_music/leeds-international-piano-competition-announces-new-partnerships-and-appointments/|title=Leeds International Piano Competition announces new partnership and appointments|website=Rhinegold|access-date=22 January 2020}} Trustee of the Royal College of Music 2006–10;{{cite web|url=http://www.rcm.ac.uk/about/governanceorganisation/collegestrategypolicyandhandbooks/financialinformation/Report%20Accounts%202010.pdf|title=Annual Report and accounts: Royal College of Music: 2010|publisher=Rcm.ac.uk|accessdate=1 October 2012}} former Trustee of London Music Masters,{{Cite web|url=https://londonmusicmasters.org/portfolio-item/sir-vernon-ellis|title=Sir Vernon Ellis – London Music Masters|access-date=23 January 2020}} Sacconi Trust and the Kathleen Ferrier Award.
From 2017 he was Chair of the Britten Pears Foundation,{{Cite web|url=https://www.rhinegold.co.uk/classical_music/britten-pears-foundation-appoints-sir-vernon-ellis-chair/|title=Britten-Pears Foundation appoints Sir Vernon Ellis as chair|website=Rhinegold|access-date=22 January 2020}} and following its merger with Snape Maltings in April 2020, Co-chair of the merged entity – Britten Pears Arts.{{Cite web|url=https://snapemaltings.co.uk/britten-pears-foundation-and-snape-maltings/|title=Britten–Pears Foundation and Snape Maltings|website=Snape Maltings|access-date=22 January 2020}} He is also Chair of Live Music Now, which since its formation in 1977 has provided over 80,000 interactive music workshops for over 2.8 million disadvantaged people throughout the UK.{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemusicnow.org.uk/lmn-news/title/Sir-Vernon-Ellis-succeeds-Ian-Stoutkzer-CBE-as-Chair-of-Live-Music-Now/item/69648|title=Sir Vernon Ellis succeeds Ian Stoutkzer CBE as Chair of Live Music Now|website=livemusicnow.org.uk|access-date=22 January 2020}} He is also a Trustee of the Royal Philharmonic Society.{{Cite web|url=https://royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/rps-today/who-we-are/trustees|title=Trustees|website=livemusicnow.org.uk|access-date=22 January 2020}} From 2012 to 2016, Ellis was Chair of HM Government's Arts and Media Honours Committee.
In 2015, he became the inaugural Chair of the Stop MS Appeal Board, an initiative of the Multiple Sclerosis Society which aims to raise £100m over ten years towards MS research; at the half-way point in 2020 when he retired from this role, the appeal had raised £50m.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mssociety.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise/stop-ms|title = Stop MS | Multiple Sclerosis Society UK}} He has long been interested in ways to increase levels of philanthropy in the UK. He took part in the Philanthropy Review in 2011–12 and is currently on the Council of the Beacon Collaborative.{{Cite web|url=https://www.beaconcollaborative.org.uk/beacon-collaborative/|title=Beacon Collaborative|website=Beacon Collaborative|access-date=22 January 2020}} Under its auspices he is leading a major initiative to bring new philanthropy into arts and culture through its impact on health, education, wellbeing and the community.
In 2001 he established the Vernon Ellis Foundation to channel his personal giving, and by 2020 the charity had distributed almost £9m.{{EW charity|1090013|The Vernon Ellis Foundation}} An early major donation provided the lead private support to the restoration of the London Coliseum.{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/return-of-the-philanthropist-as-high-rollers-make-charity-hip-5355255.html|title=Return of the philanthropist as high rollers make charity hip|date=19 April 2004|website=The Independent|access-date=23 January 2020}} The focus now is on the impact that the arts can make on wellbeing, education and the community. Also, through his Foundation, he hosted around 80–90 concerts a year between 2005 and 2017 at his London home in support of musicians' and music organisations' development, and other fundraising events.
Honours and awards
He was knighted for "services to music" in 2011, was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Music (FRCM) in 2012;{{cite web|url=http://www.rcm.ac.uk/about/news/2012-03-15thepresidentsvisit2012.aspx |title=News | The President's Visit 2012 | Royal College of Music |publisher=Rcm.ac.uk |date=15 March 2012 |accessdate=1 October 2012}} Hon Fellow Trinity Laban Conservatoire, 2011;{{cite web|url=http://trinitylaban.ac.uk/about-us/honorary-fellows |title=Honorary Fellows |publisher=trinitylaban.ac.uk|accessdate=18 March 2014}} Hon DLit Goldsmiths, University of London, 2011;{{cite web|url=http://www.gold.ac.uk/honorary-graduates/a-f/ |title=Fellows of Goldsmiths' College |publisher=gold.ac.uk |accessdate=18 March 2014}} Hon DSc Queen's University Belfast, 2012;{{cite web|url=http://www.qub.ac.uk/home/ceao/News/ArchivedPressReleases/2012PressReleases/12-2012Pressreleases/#d.en.357823 |title=12 – 2012 Press releases |publisher=Queen's University Belfast |accessdate=18 March 2014}} Hon LLD Warwick University, 2014;{{cite web|url=http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/gov/hongrads/winter2014/ |title=Honorary Graduand Orations – Winter 2014|publisher=University of Warwick |accessdate=18 March 2014}} Beacon Fellow for Cultural Philanthropy, 2013;{{cite web|url=http://beaconfellowship.org.uk/beacon-awards-2013/awards-ceremony-2013 |title=Awards Ceremony 2013|publisher=beaconfellowship.org.uk |accessdate=18 March 2014}} Association of British Orchestras Award, 2014;{{cite web|url=http://www.abo.org.uk/championing/awards/abo-award.aspx |title=ABO Award |publisher=abo.org.uk |accessdate=18 March 2014}} Honorary Bencher of the Middle Temple from 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.middletemple.org.uk/bencher-persons-view?cid=46954|title=The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple|website=|access-date=22 January 2020}}
References
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Category:People from Leicestershire
Category:English people of Welsh descent
Category:People educated at Magdalen College School, Oxford
Category:Alumni of Magdalen College, Oxford
Category:Fellows of Green Templeton College, Oxford