Meet Brian McBride, the new CBI President

When Brian McBride was nominated as the next CBI President, his “typical Glaswegian candour” and the breadth and depth of his experience in business were cited as invaluable qualities for the role. Especially given the CBI’s focus on helping members “grasp the exciting opportunities in the decade ahead”.

That was four months ago, before the situation in Ukraine rocked the global economy. And now Brian’s appointment has been confirmed at the CBI’s AGM, it feels like there is less excitement around those opportunities as firms face the rising costs of doing business.

But Brian is a calm, steady hand in a crisis, thanks to his experience in the boardroom of start-ups, scale-ups and multi-nationals. And he remains “100% convinced” of the CBI’s goals to unlock the investment, skills and confidence needed to pursue more ambitious economic growth.

The current economic climate just makes it more important than ever that businesses, whatever their size, speak with one voice – and that government is listening.

“The next 18 months will be tough for everyone,” he says. “But we can't just get through it by cutting back and then finding out that we've got nothing going forward.”

“Investment just now is what we need to be doing to make sure that businesses are thriving in two, three or four years’ time. And to take that long term view, we’re going to need government’s help on that.”

A businessman through and through

Brian is certainly one for eyeing long-term opportunities for business growth. Through his work in private equity and venture capital over the past 20 years, he’s helped invest in over 100 startups in Britain. And with a background in sales, his career has seen him at the helm of predominantly digital companies – where his success has been judged on his ability to adapt and evolve, at speed, to new technologies.

He launched 3G in the UK as Managing Director of T-Mobile. He led Amazon’s expansion here as UK CEO. He took electrical retailer AO.com public as Senior Non-Executive Director.

He’s also chaired online fashion retailer ASOS and is currently Chair at Trainline.

When the CBI has identified that greater use of AI and getting more SMEs adopting tech could add £38bn and £45bn respectively to the UK economy by 2030, Brian believes his knowledge could “help move things along a bit faster”.

But being part of more disruptive organisations has also taught him a thing or two about leadership – something he now enjoys imparting as a business mentor.

“Unless people trust you, you're not going to be a great leader. You've got to have a great touch with people,” he says. “You might be the brightest, smartest, sharpest, fastest person on the office, but if you can't get people to want to come with you, you're not going to make it.”

Speaking up from behind the scenes

Brian’s experience across sectors and driving change has also shaped his take on the importance of government relations – of highlighting both the potential and the implications of different policies. He brought T-Mobile into CBI membership. He paved the way for Amazon to do the same. He recognised that being part of a louder voice, as well as learning from the experience of others, could benefit what he was trying to achieve.

“There’s a strength in being part of a community. There’s strength in numbers,” he says.

The same principles apply to the other issues in the CBI’s Seize the Moment strategy that he’s particularly keen to “lean into”: skills and levelling up.

He grew up on a council estate in Glasgow. He knows first-hand the importance of seeing how the right attention and investment can help provide more opportunities in less prosperous part of the UK. He cites the CBI’s governance structure – its regional councils and active membership – as the reason it is uniquely placed to push for similar progress elsewhere. But he’s equally committed to being “the CBI’s conscience” to ensure that the promise of levelling up is shared right across the UK.

As you’d expect, he’s also faced the difficulties of finding the right skills to grow a business. He thinks levelling up is part of the answer to that too – but it needs a more structured approach and a greater articulation of what skills are needed before there’s any real chance of ending labour shortages.

A chance to give back

Brian sees his new role at the CBI as a chance to give back. Similar motivation has seen him sit on the governing body of Glasgow University and as a charity trustee. It’s a guiding factor in the work he’s doing now, helping to develop the civil service leadership.

“This is a great opportunity to help British business and help British society,” he says.

“When you look at what’s going on economically, politically, globally, it’s a tough, tough time globally and for the UK. But it’s what makes the CBI’s growth agenda so exciting and so timely.”

He relishes the chance to advocate for it. We can expect him to do a lot of that behind the scenes – quietly, confidently and enthusiastically. But by the time he leaves, he also wants to be known for simply getting stuff done.