Former minister Margot James announced as new executive chair of WMG

Margot James, the former Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries, has been appointed the new executive chair of Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG).

Ms James served as a Conservative MP from 2010 to 2019, working as the under-secretary for small business, consumers and corporate responsibility for two years before becoming the Minister for Digital and Creative Industries in 2018.

The University of Warwick’s vice-chancellor, Stuart Croft said: “This is a fantastic appointment. Margot brings a wealth of leadership experience from Government and industry to WMG.”

Before her parliamentary career, Margot founded the Shire Health Group in 1985, which was bought by the multinational WPP group in 2004. Margot later worked for the WPP group as Head of European Healthcare for one of its subsidiaries.

Margot said that she is “delighted to have been appointed” and that it will be a “real privilege to work with exceptional academics and researchers”.

I look forward to bringing to WMG my experience as minister for digital and the creative industries and prior to that business minister, as well as my time spent building up my business which provided marketing insights and services to the healthcare industry

– Margot James

She continued: “As well as world leading research with impact, WMG are educating the next generation of engineers and technologists. Throughout my career in business and government I have championed the need to expand opportunities for diverse groups of young people.

“I look forward to bringing to WMG my experience as minister for digital and the creative industries and prior to that business minister, as well as my time spent building up my business which provided marketing insights and services to the healthcare industry.”

Andy Street, mayor of the West Midlands, said: “WMG plays a highly important role within the region and with my knowledge of Margot and experience of working with her, I am sure that she will provide strong leadership.”

The Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, who worked closely with the founder of WMG, the late Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, stated: “I am pleased to see Margot James with whom I worked closely in government appointed to this post.

“Margot’s thorough understanding of the national policy debate and her experience of leading and working with organisations across a range of sectors will be ideal for WMG.”