Following a competition run under the Governance Code for Public Appointments, Hedley Finn OBE, Dawid Konotey-Ahulu CBE and Michael Prescott have been appointed as Independent Members on the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments. Together they bring valuable skills and experience from across the private and third sector which will assist the Committee in carrying out its work.

Hedley Finn OBE is the Director and President of Radio Lollipop International which provides psychosocial support for children in 36 hospitals across five countries. He is also the chair of Care Radio, a broadcast service for paid and unpaid workers in the care community, and a board member of several other charities and media operations. From 2000-2015 Hedley jointly led The King’s Fund’s award winning Enhancing the Healing Environment program, helping to transform over 250 health and social care organisations across acute care, end of life care and dementia. He was awarded the MBE in 1992 and OBE in 2020 for his services to children in hospitals and healthcare.

Dawid Konotey-Ahulu CBE is co-founder of two independent financial services firms, Redington Ltd and Mallowstreet Ltd. He previously worked for two investment banks, Merrill Lynch from 2000 to 2006, and NatWest Capital Markets from 1990 to 2000. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1987, working as a commercial lawyer until 1990. In 2020, he co-founded 10,000 Interns Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation helping to place interns from under-represented communities in front-office roles across 24 industries.

Michael Prescott is a former journalist who went on to become a corporate advisor. His roles have included 10 years as chief political correspondent and then political editor of the Sunday Times and eight years as corporate affairs director for BT. He currently holds roles at Hanover Communications and on the BBC committee overseeing editorial guidelines and standards.

The independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments provides advice to the government on applications submitted under the Business Appointment Rules for the most senior civil servants and other Crown servants, and directly to former Ministers on appointments they wish to take up within two years of leaving government.

The new Members announced today will join the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments later in August, subject to security clearance being granted, for five year terms.

Notes

1. Media enquiries about the work of ACoBA should go to Maggie O’Boyle on 07880 740627.
2. For more information about the role of the Committee
3. ACoBA is made up of three members nominated by the political parties and six independent members appointed under the Governance Code for Public Appointments. Political Members are nominated by their party leader, and appointed by the Prime Minister for five year terms. Independent members are also appointed for a five year term.