Andy Haldane is elected president of the British Chamber of Commerce

Wednesday 15 October 2025 12:37

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Andy Haldane has been elected as the new president of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), replacing serial entrepreneur and business expert Baroness Lane Fox.

The central banking veteran, who spent eight years on the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, was chosen to lead the business lobby group by representatives of the chamber’s network at its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday.

She will take over the role – one of the most prestigious in the British corporate world – from Martha Lane Fox in February. The last Minute.com founder’s three-year term culminates at the end of this year, but previous commitments mean Haldane won’t take over until two months later.

Haldane spent more than 32 years as an official at the Bank of England, eventually becoming the bank’s chief economist before stepping down in 2021.

He then served as chief executive of the Royal Society of Arts, a role he left earlier this year.

“Having spent my entire professional life working with, and learning from, companies and the UK House of Commons, I am thrilled and honored to be joining BCC as President,” said Haldane.

“I am very conscious that I am following in the footsteps of Baroness Lane-Fox who has been a tremendous force for good for the BCC, British business and beyond.”

Talking in AM City Awards earlier this year, Haldane described a world “full of risk and risk aversion” in which businesses and investors have been “scarred, financially and psychologically” by a series of shocks ranging from the financial crisis and Euro crisis to Brexit, Covid and US tariffs. He said the resulting risk aversion had led to an environment of “no or low returns, no or little investment, low or no growth.”

Haldane described this as “the story of the last few decades” and called for greater risk-taking backed by radical regulatory reform if the UK is to escape the “cycle of doom and gloom” fueled by “uncertainty, risk aversion and low growth.”

An important period for British business

Haldane takes on the role of BCC president – ​​one of the most high-profile ambassadorial posts for British business – at a key period in the private sector’s relationship with government. Many bosses are still reeling from the £25 billion payroll tax raid carried out on the private sector in last year’s Budget, which blindsided all the so-called “Big 5” lobby groups, and soured government-business relations.

Earlier this week, BCC director general Shevaun Haviland pleaded with the Treasury not to launch a similar attack on businesses to plug what is believed to be a £30 billion shortfall in the public finances in next month’s Budget, which he described as “make or break”.

He also called on policymakers to overhaul the much-maligned business rates system and cut taxes on oil and gas in the North Sea.

Sarah Howard, chair of the BCC, said of Haldane’s appointment: “Andy brings with him a wealth of relevant experience to his new role. His knowledge and expertise will help the BCC and our Network of Chambers to continue to navigate the geopolitical and economic uncertainty we face today.

“I would also like to thank Martha for the huge contribution she has made to BCC over the past three years. She has been a tremendous advocate for business in the UK and beyond. She has represented BCC with insight and dedication during a period of significant change.”