An established part of the London Business School events calendar, the Distinguished Speaker Series gives the school community the opportunity to hear lectures by prominent global business people and public figures. The events are open to alumni, corporate partners, staff, faculty and students and are followed by a drinks reception providing the opportunity to network with fellow guests. The series attracts high profile speakers from a broad spectrum of backgrounds.

Other Distinguished Speaker Series speakers

• Stan O'Neal, Chairman and CEO, Merrill Lynch
• Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group Ltd
• Eric L. Nicoli CBE, Chairman, EMI
• John Sunderland, Chairman, Cadbury Schweppes, 'Why do nations grow?'
• Barbara Cassani, Chair, London 2012 (download news story PDF 32KB)
• John Allan, CBE - Chief Executive, Exel plc
• Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric (G.E)
• Honorable Al Gore, former US vice-president (download news story PDF 31KB), 'Earth in the balance sheet: creating a new paradigm for he environment, investment and sustainability'
• Ken Chenault, Chairman and CEO, American Express, 'Leadership in challenging times'
• Rose Marie Bravo, Chief Executive, Burberry, 'An old world brand in a brand new world'
• Phil Kent, CEO, Turner Broadcasting Systems, 'Media, integrity and new agenda setting'
• Rt. Hon. Tony Blair, Prime Minister, Delivering the Government's policy paper on making controlled migration work for Britain.

The longest running series in our portfolio, Stockton Lectures sponsored by EDS provide the opportunity for business leaders to engage with their peers about issues of current and future importance for their organisations. Attended by board level executives from leading international companies and government agencies they provide exceptional access to the views of world-class thinkers and practitioners.

Previous Stockton Lecture Series speakers

• Ana Botin, Chairman of Banesto and member of Grupo Santander Management Committee
• Paul Skinner, Chairman, Rio Tinto Plc
• Lord Browne of Madingley,  Group Chief Executive, BP International Limited
• Dr Josef Ackermann, Chairman of the Board, Deutsche Bank
• Luc Vandevelde, Chairman and CEO, Marks & Spencer
• Rt. Hon. Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Health

The School had the pleasure of hosting Ed Balls MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, on 8 March 2007. Mr Balls addressed members of the School community on the issue of 'Long-termism in the British economy'. In the current economic climate he stressed the government's commitment to creating long-term stability in the British economy and outlined plans to achieve this through policies in the City.                                                                      

• Former US President Bill Clinton
• Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer (download news story PDF 33KB)
• Arun Sarin, CEO, Vodafone Group Plc, 'Mobile communications in the 21st century'
• Sir Nicholas Stern, Second Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, Director of Policy and Research for the Prime Minister's Commission for Africa (download news story PDF 33KB)