Rain Newton-Smith named as CBI Director General

The CBI is announcing that Rain Newton-Smith will shortly become its next Director General.

Brian McBride, CBI President, said:

“I am delighted that Rain has agreed to return to the CBI as our new Director General. She has a stellar record as a leader and advocate for UK business with all it can contribute to the economy and society. Rain brings a unique range of expertise and experience, and is widely respected across the worlds of politics, economics, and business.

Rain is well-known and highly respected at the CBI, and by its membership. She is the right leader for the organisation, possessing deep knowledge of the challenges facing businesses who are trying to grow in these challenging economic times. I have every confidence that she will provide the clear-sighted leadership that the CBI and UK business needs.”

On her appointment, Rain Newton-Smith said:

“It’s a huge privilege to be asked to return to the CBI to serve as its Director General. I passionately believe in the power of business to transform our society. I want the CBI to be an organisation of which we can all be proud. I am grateful and determined to lead the team through this challenging time. I look forward to working with the team, our members and stakeholders as we work together to achieve sustainable growth.”

Rain is currently Managing Director, Strategy and Policy, Sustainability and ESG at Barclays.

Immediately prior to joining Barclays, Rain was Chief Economist at the CBI where she led its economic policy, analysis and survey teams and the CBI’s work with HM Treasury. Amongst a host of achievements, Rain was instrumental in shaping the CBI’s work to help business navigate through the Covid pandemic.

Rain also brings significant experience of international and financial markets.

Prior to joining the economics team at the CBI, Rain was Head of Emerging Markets at Oxford Economics, where she was the lead expert on China.

Rain’s earlier career included nine years at the Bank of England, where her responsibilities included preparing global forecasts for the Monetary Policy Committee. During her time at the Bank, Rain was seconded to the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC.

Rain holds an MSc in Economics from LSE and studied Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University. She was honoured by the World Economic Forum in 2012 as a Young Global Leader and in 2010 was selected as one of Management Today’s 35 Women Under 35.

Rain lives in Oxfordshire and is married with four daughters.