Christopher Beale began his career with the Bowater Group, primarily with Bowater Scott; latterly in close association with Scott Paper Philadelphia managing overseas operations and heading project teams on international investment opportunities. He joined Getz Brothers, the largest US international non-commodity trading company and a subsidiary of the Marmon Group of Chicago in 1979, directing marketing, sourcing and investment efforts in the capacity of General Manager, Europe prior to founding Christopher Beale Associates.

Throughout the last five years Christopher has been Chairman of the Institute of Directors, founded in 1903 and one of the UK’s two largest business organisations. His role involved chairing the Institute’s Council, Board, Remuneration and Nomination Committees over a period in which he led initiatives to equip the Institute for the 21st Century in terms of structure and governance, realigning policy to affirm an apolitical stance and to achieve enhanced Government interface, whilst maintaining close involvement with all aspects of professional standards training and corporate governance issues.

Christopher is a Freeman of the City of London and either holds, or has held, non-executive Board appointments in the UK, India and Hungary. He is a Member of the Corporate Governance Committee of the ICAEW and was awarded the OBE for services to business in the Queen’s 2007 New Year’s Honours.