Howard Davies

Key speaking topics

• Financial regulation and regulatory reform
• Banking governance and board oversight
• Central banking and monetary policy
• Economic policy and global financial markets
• Risk management in financial services
• Public policy and infrastructure decision-making

Ideal for

• Bank and financial services boards
• Financial regulators and policymakers
• Institutional investors and asset managers
• Senior leaders in highly regulated sectors

Audience outcomes

• Clear understanding of the evolution of UK financial regulation
• Insight into board-level governance in global banking
• Perspective on central banking and monetary policy frameworks
• Practical lessons from regulatory leadership and institutional reform

Why organisations work with Sir Howard Davies

• Direct experience leading a major UK bank board.
• First-hand insight into financial regulation and central banking.
• Senior leadership experience across banking, regulation and higher education.
• Ability to connect public policy, governance and financial markets in a coherent strategic context.

Biography

Sir Howard Davies has shaped financial regulation, banking governance and economic policy at the highest levels of the UK and international system. As former Chair of NatWest Group, he led one of the country’s largest banking institutions, bringing board-level oversight and regulatory insight to a complex, publicly scrutinised organisation.

His experience spans central banking and financial supervision. He served as Deputy Governor of the Bank of England and was the founding Chair of the UK Financial Services Authority, giving him direct responsibility for the design and implementation of modern financial regulation. This combination of regulatory and commercial leadership provides a rare perspective on how policy, risk and governance interact in practice.

Beyond banking, Sir Howard has held senior roles across major institutions. He was Director of the London School of Economics and Political Science and is Professor of Practice at Sciences Po in Paris, reinforcing his authority in economic policy and public affairs. He also chaired the UK Airports Commission, overseeing nationally significant infrastructure analysis and recommendations.

In global financial markets, he has served as an independent director of Morgan Stanley and as a non-executive director at Prudential, where he chaired the risk committee. His current roles include Chair of Inigo Limited and participation in senior regulatory advisory councils, including chairing the International Advisory Council of the China Securities Regulatory Commission.

For organisations navigating financial regulation, board governance and economic uncertainty, Sir Howard Davies offers first-hand insight drawn from leadership at the centre of banking, supervision and public policy.