Following his decision to step down as Executive Chairman of the Sutton Trust, Sir Peter Lampl is very pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Walsh as Chair, in a non-executive capacity.

Ian is a Managing Director and Senior Partner at the Boston Consulting Group, where he has 25+ years of experience advising leading private sector and charitable organisations on strategic direction and transformational delivery. He has led BCG’s relationship with the Sutton Trust for 15+ years, providing pro bono support on strategy, funding, programme design, research and policy, and he is a long-standing member of the Trust’s Board.

Sir Peter said: ‘I am delighted to hand over the chair to Ian, with whom I have worked very closely for many years, and for whom I have enormous trust and respect. Ian has played a key role in our success as the UK’s leading social mobility foundation. He is passionate about our purpose and knows the organisation intimately. I am very confident he will help steer the Sutton Trust to the next level in the years ahead.’

Ian said: ‘It is an honour to take on the role of Chair of the Sutton Trust. Of course, nobody can replace Peter, who will always be synonymous with this wonderful organisation and the social mobility movement it triggered. That said, I am fully committed to working collaboratively with our Board of Trustees, CEO and management to help shape an exciting new chapter for the Sutton Trust. Maximising opportunity for the UK’s most talented students can be an important driver of UK growth and fairness’.

Sir Peter will remain a Trustee and a member of the Board, and will continue to be the primary point of contact for Board members, Fellows and major donors.

The Sutton Trust is the UK’s leading social mobility foundation, chaired by Sir Peter since he founded it back in 1997. Under his visionary leadership and generous funding, the Trust has played a dominant role in establishing social mobility at the heart of the national conversation. The Trust’s unique programmes have transformed the lives of tens of thousands of bright young people from low- and middle-income backgrounds, whilst its 250+ research studies have impacted government policy for nearly three decades. Since its foundation, Sir Peter has donated over £65 million to the Trust. Under his chairmanship of both the Sutton Trust and The Education Endowment Foundation, a sum approaching £1 billion has been raised in support of social mobility in the UK.

Sir Peter said: ‘The Sutton Trust has far exceeded my hopes for what it could achieve. It has worked tirelessly to level the playing field of educational opportunity and has revolutionised attitudes to social mobility in the UK.  I’m very confident that Ian will steer the Sutton Trust to the next level in the years ahead.’