CBI appoints Carolyn Fairbairn as new director general, first female in role

Carolyn Fairbairn, 54, who has worked as a journalist, economist and management consultant, will take over from John Cridland in November.

She will be the first female to hold the role.

Ms Fairbairn holds a number of non-executive directorships with firms including Capita and Lloyds Banking Group as well as the Competition and Markets Authority and the UK Statistics Authority. She will step down from the roles, apart from remaining a trustee of the charity Marie Curie.

Ms Fairbairn is a former director of strategy at both the BBC and ITV and was a member of Number 10’s policy Unit, advising on health and social services between 1995 and 1997.

There were 46 candidates for the job , with a final short-list of six .

CBI President Sir Mike Rake said: “Her wealth and breadth of experience will be critical in steering the CBI through choppy political and economic waters.”