Our Team
The Review’s Chair, Penny James join Chief Executive Vivienne Artz and team to lead the work of the Review, supported by business sponsors, the Department of Business and Trade and the Office for Equality and Opportunity.
Our Chair
Penny James
Chair
Penny is a Portfolio Non-executive director. She has extensive financial services experience, having been Chief Executive Officer at Direct Line Group from 2018 to 2022 and having previously served as Chief Financial Officer of Direct Line Group, Group Chief Risk Officer and Executive Director at Prudential Plc, Group CFO at Omega Insurance Holdings Limited and CFO, UK General Insurance, at Zurich Financial Services. Penny was a non-executive director of Admiral Group Plc between 2015-17 and has chaired the FCA Practitioner Panel and been a member of the Association of British Insurer’s Board. She is also an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Chief Executive
Vivienne Artz OBE
Chief Executive
Vivienne was appointed CEO of the FTSE Women Leaders Review in April 2024. As the former CEO of Women in Banking and Finance and a passionate advocate for gender balance in business, Vivienne has a wealth of experience. She currently holds a number of board and advisory roles supporting businesses in their data, privacy and digital transformation strategies, having previously held the role of Managing Director and Chief Privacy Officer for London Stock Exchange Group. Prior to that, she also held senior leadership roles at Refinitiv, Thomson Reuters and Citibank. In 2021 she was awarded an OBE for services to Financial Services and Gender Diversity.
Steering Group Members
The Review is overseen by an independent steering body, made up of business and subject matter experts who along with the Chair and CEO, support FTSE companies in their efforts to increase women in senior leadership positions and on their Boards. The Steering Group acts as a catalyst for sustained momentum and monitoring of progress.
Chris Grigg
Chair, UK Infrastructure Bank; Chair, Evelyn Partners
Chris Grigg is a highly regarded Chair and Non Executive Director. He is Chair of the UK Infrastructure Bank, Chair of Evelyn Partners, the PE-owned wealth management business, and is on the Corporate Board of Cancer Research UK. Prior to this, he was CEO of British Land Plc and CEO of the Commercial Bank at Barclays. Chris’s insights, networks and experience of cultural transformation will be invaluable to the Review.
Melanie Richards CBE
Non Executive Director Morgan Stanley International
Melanie was, until September 2020, the Deputy Chair of KPMG UK, with a period as Acting Chair during the pandemic. She was at the heart of driving the firm’s strategic direction and commercial performance. Melanie was awarded a CBE for her contribution to business and to the diversity and inclusion agenda in 2019. She is a founding member of the 30% Club Steering Committee, was named #1 in the 2017 FT Female Champion of Women in Business list and was awarded the inaugural UK Social Mobility Awards 2018 ‘Outstanding Contribution’ award for her work to advance inclusion and social mobility in the workplace. Melanie is Chair of the Eve Appeal (a women’s cancer charity) and trustee of The Royal National Theatre and the Invictus Games Foundation.
Monique Carter
People & Organisation Director, Anglo American Plc
Monique Carter is a multi-faceted senior leader with a strong track record in driving the DE&I, talent and culture agendas across a range of high-profile companies. She is currently the People & Organisation Director at Anglo American Plc and prior to that held senior HR roles at Novo-Nordisk A.S., GKN and Akzo Nobel N.V. As a result, she brings wide-ranging experience across the pharmaceutical, mining and healthcare industries as well as a valuable international perspective.
Pev Hooper
Managing Partner, CVC Capital Partners
Pev Hooper is a Managing Partner of CVC Capital Partners who brings a wealth of experience to the Review having held roles on multiple boards within the CVC portfolio, including Lipton Teas, Six Nations Rugby, Away Resorts, the RAC, Domestic & General, NewDay, SkyBet, Merlin Entertainments and Virgin Active.
Anna Purchas
London Office Senior Partner, KPMG
Anna is the London Office Senior Partner for KPMG, Chair for the London Region and a Vice Chair of the UK firm. She leads the work with Private Enterprise clients out of London, and the Professional Services client base across the UK. In addition to chairing the ‘London Leaders’ Circles’ Anna is responsible for building strong relationships with a broad range of organisations across London.
