Our President and Vice Presidents
President
Sir Gerald Acher CBE, LVO
Sir Gerald Acher was educated in Wimbledon, became an articled clerk with Bird, Potter & Co in 1961 and has since had a long and successful career in accounting. He was a senior partner at KPMG from 1998 to 2001. He is presently non-executive director of the Camelot Group, a vice-Chairman of Motability as well as President of Young Epilepsy.He is married with two sons and lives in Cobham. His interests include mountain walking, classics, vintage cars, gardening, opera and music.
Life Vice Presidents
Sir Bryan Nicholson GBE
Sir Bryan started his career as Director of Sperry Rand in Australia, before moving to the same position in the UK. Throughout his varied career, he has served in many positions, including Director of Rank Xerox Ltd (1977-87), the Post Office (1987-92) – were he also served as Chief Executive, and BUPA (1992-2001). He has also been a member of the Financial Reporting Council, non-executive director of the Evode Group plc, Baker Perkins Holdings plc, GKN plc and Equitas Holdings Ltd as well as chairman of the Nationalised Industries Chairmen's Group, CNAA, National Council for Vocational Qualifications and the Industrial Society. He was Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University from 1992-2001, and President of Young Epilepsy from 2005-11.He lives in London and Surrey with his wife, Lady Nicholson.
Lord Howe CH, PC, QC
The Rt. Hon. the Lord Howe of Aberavon was called to the Bar in 1952 and became the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Aberavon in 1955. He served as a member General Council of the Bar and the Council of Justice, while serving as the Conservative MP for Bebington, Reigate and Surrey East. In terms of his parliamentary career, between 1965 and 1990 he held the positions of: opposition front bench spokesman on labour and social services, Solicitor-General, minister for trade and consumer affairs, opposition front bench spokesman: on social services, on Treasury and economic affairs, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lord Commander of the Treasury, chairman of the IMF Policy-Making Interim Committee, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Leader of the Commons and Lord President of the Council, and Deputy Prime Minister. Among a vast and varied career, he was also President of Which? (1992-2010) and the Academy of Experts (1996-2005), Visiting Fellow at the John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (1991-92) and is an Honorary Fellow at Trinity Hall. He was previously President of Young Epilepsy before handing over to Sir Bryan in 2005.He is married to Baroness Howe and they have 3 children.
