Mary Francis, CBE LVO, is senior independent director on the Board of Centrica plc (which she joined in 2004)[1] and a non-executive director of Aviva Plc and of Cable & Wireless Communications. She formerly held senior positions in the City of London, HM Treasury and the Royal Household.
She was Deputy Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II February–June 1999, having been Assistant Private Secretary 1996-99.[2][3]
She was educated at James Allen's Girls' School, Dulwich, London, and Newnham College, University of Cambridge, where she obtained an MA. She joined HM Treasury and became a senior civil servant, holding the posts of Financial Counsellor at the British Embassy in Washington, DC 1990-92, and Private Secretary to the Prime Minister (Domestic and Economic) 1992-95.
She was Director-General of the Association of British Insurers 1999-2005 and a member of the Court of the Bank of England 2001-2007.
She holds a number of pro bono appointments, including Chairman of the Board of Governors of James Allen's Girls' School, Treasurer of the Almeida Theatre, a senior advisor to Chatham House and a trustee of the Wincott Foundation.