Fergis Bailie

Senior Council Chair

Fergus is the CBI’s Senior Council Chair and ex officio member of the CBI Board, focusing on representing the views of members and the CBI’s councils and committees on the Board and leading the CBI Chairs’ Committee.

Fergus Bailie is Chief Executive Officer of the Bailie Group, a Yorkshire based, family-owned, UK SME investment company, where he has led the business since 2017.

In this role, he oversees a diverse portfolio of companies and is responsible for the Group’s strategic direction, governance, and long-term growth.

Fergus began his career at PwC, where he spent five years in audit and mergers and acquisitions, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant. He holds a law degree from Durham University and has completed further executive education in business strategy and strategic agility at Columbia University and Harvard Business School.

As CEO, Fergus has structured the Group with independent operating boards and managing directors, strengthening governance and enabling scalable growth. This approach allows the executive team to focus on capital allocation and investment in new opportunities to drive sustainable long-term profitability.

In addition to his executive responsibilities, Fergus is actively involved in supporting enterprise and skills development. He has volunteered as a business mentor with The King’s Trust since 2010 and has supported numerous early-stage entrepreneurs. He also serves as Chair of the CBI for Yorkshire & the Humber, representing regional business interests and engaging with government on policy and economic growth.