Tim Parker became Chair of the National Trust in November 2014. Since his appointment, Tim has served two full three-year terms as Chair. His final term had been due to end in 2020, but a third exceptional term of office was agreed to provide stability to the organisation during the coronavirus crisis. In May 2021, the Trust announced that he would step down from his position in October this year.
Tim has enjoyed a long business career as CEO of several well-known companies. After a spell in the Treasury as an economist, he studied at the London Business School, and soon after was appointed as general manager of a subsidiary of Thorn EMI, based in Chicago.
In 1989, Tim led the management buy-out of Kenwood, the kitchen appliances company. Subsequently Tim has been CEO of Clarks, the shoe company, Kwik-Fit, the AA and Samsonite. He has also served as a non-executive director on the Boards of Legal & General, Alliance Boots and Compass Group.
Tim remains Chairman of Samsonite. He is also Chair of the Post Office, Chair of the Board of HM Courts & Tribunals Service and a Trustee of the Royal Academy of Music.
The National Trust is sincerely grateful for the service Tim has given during his seven-year tenure, particularly over the past year when he has supported the Trust during our response to the coronavirus crisis. He has overseen a major savings programme to sustain the organisation through the pandemic and beyond.
Hilary McGrady, Director-General of the National Trust, said: 'We are deeply grateful for the time, energy and passion Tim has brought to the role of Chair. Under his guidance, our charity has grown in strength and capability. Our membership has grown from 4.2 million in 2014 to nearly 6 million at the start of the pandemic and we have managed more than £900 million of conservation projects during Tim’s tenure. He leaves us in a strong position, despite the challenges the pandemic has brought.'
The appointment of Tim’s successor as Chair, a voluntary position, will be made by the National Trust Council. The Chair is the most senior of the Trust's more than 50,000 volunteers, who give around 5 million hours of their time to the National Trust in a usual year.
