- UKGI's corporate governance and corporate finance advice and
support has been significantly expanded since his appointment,
particularly through the setting up of the new Financial
Instruments and Transactions Advisory Group.
- The recruitment process for his successor will be launched
shortly.
Charles Donald has announced today (24 July) that he will step
down from his role as CEO of UK Government Investments (UKGI) in
early 2026 after over five years of leading the company.
UKGI is the government's centre for expertise in corporate
governance and corporate finance, providing expert advice and
solutions to the government, including financial interventions
into corporate structures and corporate finance negotiations.
As CEO, Charles oversaw a significant expansion of UKGI's
activities during the pandemic including the establishment of the
Covid Interventions Resolution Group which supported the Bank of
England's £85 billion Covid Corporate Financing Facility.
The addition of AWE, BBC Commercial, Eutelsat, Octric, the
National Wealth Fund, NESO, Network Rail, Reclaim Fund Limited,
Sheffield Forgemasters and Sizewell C to UKGI's governance
portfolio also happened during Charles' time as CEO.
He was a key player in securing the Treasury's full exit as a
shareholder in NatWest Group in May 2025.
Economic Secretary to the Treasury, , said:
Charles has been an excellent CEO of UKGI, having led an
impressive expansion of its important work to provide advice and
support to the Government on complex corporate governance and
corporate finance matters.
I wish him well and look forward to UKGI's continued work to
support our number one mission – delivering economic growth.
Charles Donald, outgoing CEO of UKGI, said
It has been an extraordinary privilege to be the CEO of UKGI
since early 2020.
My objective was to continue building the expertise in corporate
finance and corporate governance that UKGI brings to government
as well as to ensure that UKGI continued to be an effective
bridge between Whitehall and the City.
I am proud to have had the opportunity to grow and further
professionalise an organisation of such skilled and dedicated
experts who support departments as government's in-house
corporate finance and corporate governance advisory function.
Vindi Banga, Chair of UKGI, said:
I am profoundly grateful to Charles for his leadership and
commitment to UKGI over the past seven years.
It has been a privilege to work with Charles as he has led UKGI
in support of some of government's toughest challenges, with his
characteristically calm leadership style, wisdom, and immense
professional expertise.
The recruitment process for Charles Donald's successor will be
launched shortly.
The Board, led by Vindi Banga, is leading the process and as part
of a well-ordered succession, Charles will support the transition
to the new CEO following their appointment.
Further information
- UKGI is the government's centre of expertise in corporate
governance and corporate finance. It provides expert advice and
leading solutions that inform and translate government's
decisions into effective outcomes in the national interest.
- UKGI acts as shareholder representative for, and leads the
establishment of, UK government most complex and commercial arm's
length bodies on behalf of sponsor departments. It advises on
major UK government corporate finance matters, including
financial interventions into corporate structures and corporate
finance negotiations; it analyses and advises on the UK
government's contingent liabilities and advises on major UK
government corporate finance matters, including financial
interventions into corporate structures and corporate finance
negotiations.
- UKGI is owned by HM Treasury and independently managed with a
Board comprised predominantly of independent non-executive
directors. UKGI works closely with both the private and public
sectors, advising and interacting with ministers, Parliament, and
Whitehall departments.
