Rick Haythornthwaite
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
Chief Executive Officer
London, GB
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
THE MARQUE
In Their Own Right
Biography
Rick Haythornthwaite is a visionary British businessman with a distinguished career spanning multiple sectors. With a successful track record of running multinational companies, public sector initiatives, and not-for-profit organisations, Rick is a highly respected leader in the UK and the global business community.
Rick currently serves as Chair of NatWest Group and 2030 Prosperity Alliance, and as Non-Executive Chair of The AA. He is an Advisory Partner at Moelis & Co. and a Visiting Fellow at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.
Rick began his career in the energy sector, working for BP as an exploration geologist. After rising through various commercial and senior leadership roles, he moved to Premier Oil in 1995.
In 1997, Rick joined Blue Circle Industries where he led a period of major transformation that resulted in him becoming CEO. He went on to serve as CEO of Invensys where he restructured the company to divest non-core assets and refocus its business strategy.
Beyond his executive roles, Rick is a highly experienced advisor and board member. He was Chair of Mastercard for over 14 years, overseeing its transformation into a global technology company.
He has also led the strategic development of key organisations such as Network Rail and Centrica, and served as Chair at Ocado Group, Railsr, Arc Holdings, QiO Technologies and Xynteo. His previous non-executive directorships include ICI, Cookson plc, Lafarge SA, Landsec, and Globant.
Rick’s leadership has extended to arts and the creative industries, chairing the boards of the Southbank Centre, Almeida Theatre, the World Wide Web Foundation and Creative UK.
Rick chaired the independent 2023 Haythornthwaite Review of UK Armed Forces Incentivisation, whose recommendations continue to inform the Ministry of Defence's modernisation of the Armed Forces.
Rick is a champion of regulatory reform and led the UK Better Regulation Commission and Risk & Regulatory Advisory Council.
The Record
Background
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1978 — 1995
Various roles, leaving as President BP Venezuela
BP
BP is a British multinational energy company headquartered in London. One of the world's largest oil and gas firms, it operates in exploration, production, refining, and marketing. BP is increasingly investing in renewable energy sources to diversify its energy portfolio.
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1995 — 1997
Director, Corporate & Commercial
Premier Oil PLC
Premier Oil is a UK-based independent oil and gas company. It focuses on upstream activities, including exploration, drilling, and production. Operating mainly in the North Sea, Asia, and Latin America, the company aims for efficient extraction and responsible environmental practices.
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1997 — 2001
Various senior positions, leaving as Group Chief Executive Officer
Blue Circle Industries PLC
Blue Circle Industries was a British public company manufacturing cement. Founded in the early 20th century, it became one of the largest cement producers globally. The company was acquired by Lafarge in 2001, subsequently becoming part of LafargeHolcim.
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2001 — 2005
Chief Executive Officer
Invensys plc
Invensys was a British multinational engineering and information technology company. Specialising in automation, controls, and industrial software, it served diverse sectors including energy, transportation, and manufacturing. Acquired by Schneider Electric in 2014, its technologies continue to be part of Schneider's industrial solutions.
In The News
Newsfeed
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27 June 2026 · The Times
How much richer should you be?
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29 September 2025 · City AM
Natwest chair: Rachel Reeves’ Budget must include radical tax reform
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1 June 2025 · This is Money
NatWest is grateful to taxpayers and it's ready to get the UK growing, says Rick Haythornthwaite
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23 April 2025 · The Guardian
NatWest chair thanks UK taxpayers for bailout ahead of return to private ownership
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23 April 2024 · The Independent
NatWest boss admits ‘unexpected challenges’ for bank in 2023
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4 April 2024 · Retail Gazette
Ocado Group chair to step down next year
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26 October 2023 · Sky News
British fintech Railsr sets sights on growth after £20m funding boost
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6 September 2023 · The Guardian
NatWest plays it safe with new chairman Rick Haythornthwaite
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6 September 2023 · Financial Times
Rick Haythornthwaite appointed Chair of NatWest
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30 August 2023 · Sky News
British fintech Railsr lures Haythornthwaite as chairman
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19 June 2023 · Financial Times
UK military is struggling to recruit tech experts, says report
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8 June 2023
Overcoming Adversity and Persevering
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10 May 2022 · GOV.UK
Announcement of Chair - The Haythornthwaite Review of Armed Forces Incentivisation
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Formative Years
Education
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The Queen's College, University of Oxford
MA, Geology/Earth Science
1975 — 1978
Areas Of Focus