Research England Council member
Michael G Rees is a member of Research England’s Council.
Mike was the founder of Strategic Vitality, a consulting practice focusing on helping to shape the vision and purpose of businesses to the constantly changing economic, technological, and financial world. As an experienced global business leader, Mike is passionate about resolving leadership challenges at an individual and an organisational level. Mike is currently advising, mentoring and investing in several technology start-ups and investment fund companies at varied stages of development. A report he prepared for UKRI on developing university spinouts was published in July 2019.
Until April 2016, Mike was Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank. Mike joined the bank in 1990. In 2002, he was appointed as Chief Executive Officer, Wholesale Banking, responsible for the bank’s global commercial banking, financial markets and corporate finance businesses, including private equity. In 2014, Mike was appointed Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer, when he also took on responsibility for the consumer and private banking businesses. Between 1994 and 2006, Mike was based in Singapore, where as part of social giving he successfully promoted Youth Rugby.
Mike is a Deputy Chair of the Supervisory Board, and Chair of the Board Risk Committee at ING Bank, Chair of the board of Travelex and Chair of the Board of the Mauritius Africa Fintech Association. He has previously been a member of the International Advisory Board of Mauritius and the International Advisory Board of Rome. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ACA) and the UK Institute of Directors (IOD).
After graduating from the University of Aston, Birmingham (BSc Hons) in 1978, Mike qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Whinney Murray. He joined JP Morgan in 1980 where he held several senior roles in finance. He and his wife have a working wine estate in Italy, where a huge focus is placed on environmental sustainability.
Period of appointment: November 2020 to March 2026.
Last updated: 1 July 2024