Mentor
Rt. Hon. Sir Hugh Robertson KCMG DL
Overview
Rt. Hon. Sir Hugh Robertson is a highly experienced leader at the intersection of sport, government, business and public life. He is Chair of Birmingham International Airport, an Independent Non-Executive at Deloitte sitting on its UK, European and Global Advisory Boards, and a Member of the International Olympic Committee. He was previously Chair of the British Olympic Association, which he led through the Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games, during which Team GB secured over 200 medals and a series of record-breaking performances. From 2018 to 2023 he chaired Camelot, operator of the National Lottery, overseeing growth in sales from £6.9bn to £8.3bn.
Hugh plays an active role in national governance and recognition. He is an independent member of the House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC) and previously chaired the Sports Honours Committee for the maximum six-year term, helping shape how excellence in sport and public service is recognised. Earlier, he served as Member of Parliament for a Kent constituency from 2001 to 2015 and held ministerial office as Minister for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, an event widely regarded as one of the most successful Games of modern times. He subsequently became Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with responsibility for the Syria peace talks, US Secretary of State John Kerry’s Middle East peace process and the Iran nuclear negotiations.
Before entering Parliament, Hugh was an investment manager at Schroder Investment Management and an Army officer, seeing active service in Northern Ireland, with the UN in Cyprus, during the First Gulf War and with the UN during the siege of Sarajevo.
Sir Hugh brings deep cross-sector expertise in:
• Global sport, major events & Olympic leadership – ministerial and IOC roles, and Chair of the British Olympic Association.
• Government, foreign policy, defence & security – ministerial responsibility across conflict zones, peace processes and international negotiations, combined with operational military experience in high‑risk environments.
• Aviation, infrastructure & regional development – chairing Birmingham International Airport and engaging with city and regional stakeholders.
• Retail & large‑scale consumer operations – Chair of Camelot during a strategy refresh that saw National Lottery sales rise from £6.9bn to £8.2bn.
He has also played a prominent ceremonial role in national life as a Gentleman at Arms since 2015, on parade at the funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II and the Coronation of HM King Charles III and HM Queen Camilla. In 2025 he was appointed Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Kent.
PDF Profile
Download PDFMajor Career Roles
British Olympic Association
Chair
Birmingham Airport Holdings Ltd
Chair
Camelot UK Lotteries Ltd
Chair
UK Cabinet Office Sports Honours Committee
Committee Chair
Falcon and Associates
Vice Chair
Other Career Highlights
Deloitte
Independent Non-Executive Director
UK House of Commons, Faversham and Mid Kent
Member of Parliament
UK Government
Minister for Sport and the Olympics / Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa
Schroders Investment Management (UK) Ltd
Assistant Director & Head of New Business Development, Property Division
British Army
Officer
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