As Director-General of the CBI, John Cridland is the key spokesman for the business community in the media, on public platforms and with government. He leads the CBI - the voice of business - in the UK and represents it internationally

John was educated at Boston Grammar School and has an MA in History from Christ's College, Cambridge. He joined the CBI as a policy adviser in 1982 and has been Director of Environmental Affairs and of Human Resources Policy. John was Deputy Director-General from 2000 to 2010.

John is a board member of Business in the Community and a UK Commissioner for Employment and Skills. He is also a member of the Council of Cranfield University. He was Vice Chair of the National Learning and Skills Council between 2007-2010. He spent 10 years on the Low Pay Commission and the ACAS Council, and was also a member of the Commission on Environmental Markets and Economic Performance.

John is married with two teenage children and lives in Bedfordshire. He was awarded a CBE for services to business in 2006 and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Lincoln in 2011.