British-American Project

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The British American Project for the Successor Generation was founded in 1985 by Nick Butler to perpetuate the close relationship between the United States and Britain. It has a membership of around 600 leaders and opinion formers from both countries. It holds an annual conference to which journalists are not invited and rarely appears in the media, although many members are themselves journalists.

Since its official formation it has received sponsorship from, among other companies, Coca-Cola, Unilever, Monsanto, Saatchi and Saatchi, Phillip Morris, Coopers & Lybrand, American Express, Apple Computer, British Airways, BP, Cadbury Schweppes and Camelot.

Its members are taken from a large depth and breadth of intellectual and influential society on both sides of the Atlantic. At the start of each year, each existing member can nominate up to three people aged between 28 and 40. These nominees are then interviewed and tested: there are competitive debates, management games and personal presentations. Nominees are selected according to their willingness to listen to other people and their ability to assimilate with the existing group. The selective nature of the organisation's membership, and its transatlantic focus, have earned it the nickname "Junior Bilderberg".