Open Europe Today

Fast Analysis Ahead of the Game

Open Europe Today is the go-to source for real-time analysis on breaking European affairs, delivered by Our Experts as they unfold. We are a non-partisan and independent policy think tank, committed to crafting and putting into action solutions to the European Union’s most pressing challenges.

What Our Supporters Do

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  Alex Hickman

  Managing Partner, Chartwell Partners Alex Hickman is the co-founder of Open Europe having spent almost a decade involved in the debate about the future of Britain and the EU in his roles as Chief Executive of Business for Sterling; The No Campaign; Vote 2004 and Vote No. Alex worked as an advisor to David Cameron and he established the Movement for European Reform - a precursor to the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists - between 2006 and 2007. He is the also the co-founder and Chief Executive of Chartwell Partners, a worldwide speaker’s bureau. Alex has a regular blog at www.stuff-happens.org.
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  Baroness Joanna Shields OBE

  Former Chair, Tech City UK; Non-Exec Director, London Stock Exchange Baroness Joanna Shields OBE is the UK Minister for Internet Safety and Security. Prior to this, she was the Chair of Tech City UK and a non-executive Director of the London Stock Exchange. She has been involved with building-up some of the world’s most prominent technology companies such as Google, Facebook, Bebo and AOL.
  
  She topped Wired top 100 list of the UK's digital power in 2011, came sixth in the the MediaGuardian 100 in 2012, and was named as one of the most influential women in Britain by Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.
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  Björn Fröling

  Vice Chairman, Öhman Björn is the Vice Chairman of Öhman, having previously worked in investment banking as a Managing Director and Partner at Lazard AB and Brummers and Partners. Björn previously served as the Global Head of Corporate Finance at Alfred Berg.
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  Charlotte Black

  Director of Corporate Affairs, Brewin Dolphin Securities Ltd Charlotte is the Director of Corporate Affairs for Brewin Dolphin, the largest independent private client portfolio manager in the UK. She is also a Director of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) and the WMA (formerly APCIMS the industry trade association). Charlotte is a member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (MCSI), and of several Advisory Committees in the City, including the Scottish Financial Enterprise Advisory Board and the Euroclear Cross Border Market Advisory Committee (XMAC). Charlotte Black was a Westminster Parliamentary Candidate in 1997.
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  David Frost

  CEO, Scotch Whisky Association David Frost CMG is the Chief Executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, one of Britain’s largest trade associations. He spent 25 years as a diplomat in the British Foreign Office, serving, amongst other positions, as the British Ambassador to Denmark; Director for the European Union and as Director for Strategy and Policy Planning. Most recently he served as Britain’s most senior trade policy official and as a full member of the EU’s Trade Policy Committee.
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  David Ord

  Managing Director, The Bristol Port Company David Ord is the Managing Director of the Bristol Port Company and a Council member of the University of Bristol and Chairman of the Finance Committee. He is also a member of the Society of Merchant Venturers.
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  David Reid Scott

  Senior Adviser, Stonehage Advisory Family Office David Reid Scott currently serves as a senior advisor to Stonehage Advisory’s family office division having served as Stonehage’s Chairman between 2010 and 2014. David began his career at White Weld & Co in New York and London, before spending a number of years as Senior Advisor to the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency. In 1985, David became a founding partner of Phoenix Securities, which was sold to Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette in 1998 and where he served as Vice Chairman and Chairman of its international Financial Institutions practice. Between 2001 and 2009, he served as Chairman of Hawkpoint Partners: one of the leading European corporate advisory firms. David also works with a number of charities and endowments in the UK and Ireland, as well as in Mozambique where he has sponsored a major eco-tourism project.
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  Dr Gerard Lyons

  Chief Economic Advisor to the Mayor of London Dr Gerard Lyons is chief economic advisor to Mayor Boris Johnson. He previously spent 27 years in senior positions in The City at Standard Chartered, DKB International, Swiss Bank and Chase. He currently has a number of pro-bono roles that include the Board of CityUK, Council Royal Economic Society and Advisory Board of Warwick University Business School.
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  Elizabeth Gage

  Jewellery Designer Elizabeth is one of Britain's most influential jewellery designers, with a career spanning over five decades. Her first major commission was for Cartier, New York in 1968. Since then she has gone on to win many accolades, including the prestigious Queens Award for Export, British Jewellery Designer of the Year, and the De Beers Diamond Award. Elizabeth's work is displayed in the permanent jewellery collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and, in 2008 Retail Jeweller presented her with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
  
  Elizabeth is a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.
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  George Trefgarne

  Chief Executive, Boscobel & Partners Ltd George Trefgarne is the Chief Executive of Boscobel & Partners. Previously a journalist, George was formerly the Economics Editor of the Daily Telegraph and the City Editor of the Sunday Telegraph. He was also a consultant at the leading financial communications firm Maitland.
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  Haruko Fukuda

  Non-Executive Director, Investec Haruko is a non-executive Director of Investec and a former Chairman of Calibre Global Investments Ltd. Haruko is also former director of Foreign and Colonial Investment Trust plc and former Chief Executive of the World Gold Council.
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  Hugh Sloane

  Founder, Sloane Robinson Hugh Sloane co-founded Sloane Robinson in December 1993, serving as the CEO and manager of the International and Japan portfolios since the firm’s establishment. Hugh began his investment career at GT Management in 1979, where he initially worked in Hong Kong as an economist for the Asian Region. In 1986 he became Investment Director of GT Japan, responsible for Japanese equity portfolios, and chaired the Asian regional investment committee. In 1991 he moved to London to become GT’s CEO for Europe.
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  John Barton

  Non-Executive Chairman, EasyJet Plc John Barton is the Chairman of EasyJet. He is also currently Chairman of Next plc and Catlin Group Limited. John has previously served as a non-executive Director of WHSmith plc and Wellington Underwriting plc. Following JIB’s merger with Lloyd Thomson, John became Chairman of Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc until 2001.
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  Justin Dowley

  Chairman, Intermediate Capital Group Justin Dowley is the Chairman of Intermediate Capital Group. A founding partner of the independent advisory firm, Tricorn Partners, he has previously served both as Head of UK investment banking at Morgan Grenfell, and as Head of European investment banking at Merrill Lynch.
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  Lord Leach of Fairford

  Director, Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd Lord Leach of Fairford is the founder and Chairman of Open Europe, having previously served as the Chairman of Business for Sterling, which successfully campaigned to keep Britain out of the euro. Lord Leach currently serves as Director of Jardine Matheson; Jardine Lloyd Thompson; Hongkong Land; the Mandarin Oriental; Dairy Farm and Paris Orleans.
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  Lord Renwick of Clifton

  Vice Chairman, Investment Banking, JP Morgan Europe Lord Renwick currently serves as Vice-Chairman of Investment Bank