Executive and Governance Office

Staff Profile

Sir George Russell
Honorary Member of Court

  • Honorary Member of Court

Date first appointed: 2004

Sir George Russell was born in 1935 in the North East of England, and is married with three daughters.

His industrial career has spanned ICI, Welland Chemical in Canada, Alcan Aluminium Ltd in both Canada and the UK, and Marley plc until his retirement as Chair in 1997.

Media involvement began in 1979 with the Independent Broadcasting Authority, after which he was at various times Deputy Chair of Channel 4, Chair of Independent Television News, Chair of the IBA (later the Independent Television Commission) and Deputy Chair of Granada plc. He was formerly Deputy Chair of ITV plc.

Sir George’s other non-executive roles have included serving as Chair of the Northern Development Company, 3i Group plc and Camelot Group. He has served as a non-executive director on the Boards of Taylor Woodrow, Northern Rock and the World Board of Alcan Aluminium Ltd in Canada. He is currently a director of the Wildfowl Wetland’s Trust.

Sir George was awarded CBE in 1985, and in 1992 received his Knighthood.