Thomson Reuters Trust Principles guardian names businesswoman as next chairman

A board member since 2011, she will take over on 1 January 2017 from Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, a Danish politician who has served as a director since 2001 and as chairman since 2013.

Alexander was chief executive of the Economist Group until 2008, having joined the company in 1985 and been managing director of the Economist Intelligence Unit from 1993 to 1997. She has also served on the boards of Northern Foods, BT, Centrica, Rolls-Royce, as deputy chairman of esure and chairman of the Port of London Authority. She was president of the Confederation of British Industry from 2009-2011. She is chairman of UBM, non-executive director of Huawei UK, senior adviser to Bain Capital, a trustee of Sir Tim Berners-Lee's World Wide Web Foundation, and a member of PwC’s Public Interest Advisory Body. She is chancellor of the University of Southampton and is involved with other not-for-profit organisations in the arts and education. She was recently awarded the Légion d'Honneur.

The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles were created by Reuters in 1941 to preserve its independence, integrity and freedom from bias in the gathering and dissemination of information and news. Since the acquisition of Reuters by the Thomson organisation in 2008 they have applied to the entire merged business.

Founders Share Company board members comprise representatives from more than a dozen countries on six continents.

Uffe Ellemann-Jensen said: “After 15 years of proud service to the Board, I take great pleasure in handing over the chairmanship to Dame Helen, a successful leader whose own values truly reflect those of the Founders Share Company.”

Alexander said: “It is a true honour to succeed Uffe as Chairman of the Board, and I look forward to continuing his outstanding, loyal and thorough service to the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.” ■