Press release

Trustee of The National Gallery

John Nelson has been appointed as a trustee of The National Gallery.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The Prime Minister has appointed John Nelson as a Trustee of The National Gallery for 4 years from 11 October 2010.

Biographical details

John Nelson is an accountant with a 30-year career at board level in the financial sector, as a director of Kleinwort Benson (1980 to 1986), managing director and then Vice-Chairman of Lazard Brothers (1986 to 1999), and chairman of Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Ltd until 2002. He has held a number of non-executive directorships, and is currently chairman of Hammerson plc and deputy chairman of Kingfisher plc. He is also a member of the Takeover Panel Appeal Board, a senior adviser to Charterhouse Capital Partners LLP, and a member of the Chairman’s Advisory Group at KPMG. Outside the financial world, Mr Nelson has been a director of Finton House Educational Trust, and a board member of English National Opera. He holds no other public appointments.

Notes to editors

The National Gallery houses one of the greatest collections of European painting in the world. It contains paintings from the 13th to the early 20th centuries, representing all the major European schools of painting with examples of all the major artists’ work. These pictures belong to the public and entrance to see them is free. Its trustees are not remunerated.

The appointment process has followed the OCPA Code of Practice. Appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for political activity in the United Kingdom in the past 5 years (if any declared) to be made public. Mr Nelson has declared no political activity.

Published 11 October 2010