Sir Gareth Rhys Williams, 3rd Baronet

Sir (Arthur) Gareth Ludovic Emrys Rhys Williams, 3rd Baronet,[1] CB CEng FIET FIMechE CCMI (born 9 November 1961), is a British engineer, businessman and civil servant.[2][3] As of 2024, Sir Gareth is HMG Chief Commercial Officer in the Cabinet Office, where he has served since 2016.[2][4]

Early and personal life

Born in 1961 to Caroline née Foster, daughter of Dr Ludovic Foster,[5] and Sir Brandon Rhys-Williams, Bt, MP, the only surviving son of Sir Rhys and Dame Juliette Rhys-Williams, Rhys Williams attended Eton College, before going up to read Engineering at Durham University, graduating BSc. Rhys Williams then pursued further studies at INSEAD, taking an MBA.[6]

Sir Gareth married Harriet née Codner in 1996, by whom he has a daughter and two sons, including his heir to the baronetcy, Ludo (born 2001).[3]

Career

Rhys Williams worked in a number of management posts in engineering companies across Europe, rising to CEO (Chief executive officer) of Vitec Group from 2001–08, of Capital Safety for 2008–10, of Charter International for 2011–12, and finally PHS Group for 2012–14.[7] In 2016, he was appointed as HMG Chief Commercial Officer to the Cabinet Office, replacing Chris Hall.[2]

Rhys Williams served as a Member of the Council of the conservation charity Fauna and Flora International from 2012–20, and as one of their Vice-Presidents since 2021,[3] after his grandfather attended the first meeting of the preceding organization the Society for the Preservation of the Wild Fauna of the Empire in 1903.[8] Rhys Williams has been a Trustee of the Chartered Management Institute since 2022.[3]

Companion of the Bath
neck decoration

Honours

Sir Gareth, who succeeded to the family baronetcy in 1988 upon his father's death from leukaemia, was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2024 New Year Honours for "public service".[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Gareth Rhys Williams". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2024-09-29.
  2. ^ a b c "Gareth Rhys Williams". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  3. ^ a b c d "Rhys Williams, Sir (Arthur) Gareth (Ludovic Emrys), (born 9 Nov. 1961), Government Chief Commercial Officer, Cabinet Office, since 2016". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u32380. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  4. ^ "New Government Chief Commercial Officer appointed". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  5. ^ www.debretts.com
  6. ^ "PHS Group chief executive Gareth Rhys Williams on the company's debt and his plans to triple turnover in 10 years". Wales Online. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  7. ^ www.phs.co.uk
  8. ^ Flora & Fauna International (2023). "Our Supporters". Retrieved 2023-12-30. Sir Rhys Rhys-Williams was present at the very first meeting of the Society for the Preservation of the Wild Fauna of the Empire in 1903 and went on to serve for a number of years as the Honorary Secretary of the Society.
  9. ^ "No. 64269". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2023. p. N3.
Government offices
Preceded by
Chris Hall
 HMG Chief Commercial Officer
2016– 		Incumbent
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Baronet
(of Miskin)
1988– 		Incumbent