Neil Makin
Chairman, Cadbury Foundation
Neil began his career as a graduate trainee with Pilkington Glass. Joined Kellogg Company of Great Britain in 1974, becoming HR Director in 1982. Moved to Cadbury Limited in Bournville in 1988 as Personnel Director.
In 1997 moved to Berkeley Square, London to a new Group-wide role as External Affairs Director with Cadbury Schweppes plc. There, he established the Group’s government affairs programme in Brussels, Westminster and Washington, coordinating relationships with trade associations and other industry-wide bodies.
Corporate Responsibility has been a key part of Neil’s role at Cadbury, leading the company’s thinking and programme development, and its emerging sustainability agenda. He has supported the Main Board CSR Committee, and chaired the Group’s Human Rights and Ethical Trading Committee. A founder Board member of the International Cocoa Initiative, the multi-agency foundation established by the global confectionery industry, the ILO and a number of NGOs to ensure ethical labour standards in cocoa production in West Africa and elsewhere.
Since January 2008, he has moved to a part-time consultancy role, including Chair of the Cadbury Foundation, with a principal focus on programmes of education and enterprise in schools, as well as other themes including health and wellness; environment and sustainability; and social and economic development priorities in West Africa and India.
Outside Cadbury, Neil holds a number of appointments including Chair of BXL Services Ltd (formerly the Birmingham and Solihull Connexions Partnership); Chair, Young Enterprise National Council; and Governor, Chipping Campden School. Previously he was a Board member of Camelot plc and Vice Chairman of the Adult Learning Inspectorate.
Neil was awarded an OBE in 2005 for services to adult learning. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development (FIPD), and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA).
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