James Lambert
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
Non-Executive Director
London, GB
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
THE MARQUE
In Their Own Right
Biography
James Lambert is a real estate investor focused on experiential retail across Europe, Asia, and the US as a founding shareholder and Deputy Chairman of The Bicester Collection.
His first career was as an art dealer at Colnaghi, where he was a Director and head of the Old Master department.
His philanthropic and cultural activities are focused on the arts and education. He is a Trustee of the National Gallery, a Non-Executive Director at Castle Howard, and a founding Trustee and former Chair of IntoUniversity.
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours List in recognition of his services to social mobility in education.
The Record
Background
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1993 — Present
A founding Shareholder & Deputy Chairman | The Bicester Collection
Value Retail PLC
A founding shareholder and Deputy Chairman of Value Retail PLC, which developed and operates Bicester Village, one of 12 shopping villages around the world. The Collection of Villages in Europe, the US, and China welcomes 45 million visitors annually, including 7.3 million at Bicester Village alone.
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2023 — Present
Non-Executive Director
Castle Howard
James is a Non-Executive Director at Castle Howard, one of the finest country estates in Britain. Castle Howard is an iconic filming location, including for 'Bridgerton' and 'Brideshead Revisited', and hosts a world-renowned art collection. It welcomes more than a quarter of a million visitors each year. James brings his commercial expertise from the retail industry, supporting the Castle Howard team to grow and diversify its visitors and revenue.
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2021 — Present
Trustee
The National Gallery
A Trustee of The National Gallery since December 2021, and Chair of the trading company National Gallery Global. Founded in 1824, the National Gallery in London’s Trafalgar Square houses a collection of almost 2,500 paintings from the 13th to 19th centuries. It is open for 361 days of the year and entry is free of charge.
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2021 — Present
Chairman
National Gallery Global
During James's time as Chair of National Gallery Global, the company has significantly increased turnover and the financial contribution it makes to the Gallery each year, strengthened its board, and brought in greater industry expertise to transform the commercial arm of the Gallery.
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2009 — Present
Former Chair of the Trustee Board and current Advisory Board member
IntoUniversity
Founding Trustee of IntoUniversity, a local charity which successfully scaled into a national charity with 31 centres. Having retired as Chair, James now sits on the Advisory Panel. The charity currently supports 50,000 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in attaining either a university place or entering the world of work via an apprenticeship, through projects which have been described by The Times as 'the most powerful engine for social mobility in the UK’.
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1991 — Present
Director
Lisburne Holdings
Director of property investment company based in London.
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1982 — 1985
Director and Head of Old Master Department
Colnaghi
James led the Old Master Department at Colnaghi, a renowned art dealership with a long history, founded in 1760 in London. It is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious galleries, specialising in Old Masters and fine art from the 15th to the 19th centuries.
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2011 — 2019
Advisory Board Member
Northeastern University
Advised the leadership team at Northeastern University London, the UK arm of Northeastern University, one of the most prestigious research universities in the US.
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2016 — 2022
Trustee
Somerset House
James was a Trustee of Somerset House, a cultural centre in the heart of London which attracts over 3 million visitors a year and combines a historic heritage with a commitment to contemporary culture.
Formative Years
Education
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University of Cambridge
Awarded an exhibition to St Catharine’s College
1975 — 1978
Areas Of Focus