13 Facts About Carolyn Fairbairn

Carolyn Fairbairn has been the Chair of the Royal Mencap Society since March 2022.

Carolyn Fairbairn graduated with a BA in economics from Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, then an MA in international relations from the University of Pennsylvania, followed by an MBA from INSEAD in France.

Carolyn Fairbairn began her career as an economist at the World Bank.

Carolyn Fairbairn worked with companies in sectors including brewing, DIY retailing, computer services, investment management and newspapers, advising on mergers, business expansion, cost control and global competitiveness.

In 1997, Fairbairn was appointed director of strategy for BBC Worldwide, later promoted to director of strategy ad distribution, and became a member of the BBC's executive board.

Carolyn Fairbairn was responsible for delivery of the BBC's services to viewers, including on cable and satellite.

Carolyn Fairbairn helped to develop the BBC's digital strategy and renewal of its charter, and was instrumental in creating One BBC.

Carolyn Fairbairn joined the company at a time of crisis as the advertising market collapsed following the financial crash.

Between 2008 and 2011, Carolyn Fairbairn was a non-executive director of the Financial Services Authority.

Carolyn Fairbairn has extensive boardroom experience, including as a non-executive director of Lloyds Banking Group, The Vitec Group, a medium-sized photographic and broadcast equipment supplier, the global outsourcer Capita and the UK Statistics Authority.

Carolyn Fairbairn resigned just over a year later in May 2022 to take up the position of Chair of the Royal Mencap Society.

Carolyn Fairbairn is married to Peter Chittick and they have three children.

Carolyn Fairbairn is a multimillionaire property developer, and together they own the "boutique" Hotel Crillon Le Brave in Provence, France.