Mary Francis

Mary Francis (1948), British
Member, non-executive and independent

Career

Mary Francis joined the UK Civil Service in 1971, focusing on financial and economic policy. She held a number of senior positions including Financial Counsellor at the British Embassy in Washington DC from 1990 to 1992, Private Secretary to the Prime Minister from 1992 to 1995 and Deputy Private Secretary to the Queen from 1995 to 1999. Between 1999 and 2005 she was Director General of the Association of British Insurers. She was a non-executive director of the Bank of England from 2001 to 2007 and a member of the board of directors of Aviva plc from 2005 to 2012. Mary Francis was elected to Swiss Re’s Board of Directors in 2013 and is a member of the Finance and Risk Committee.

External appointments

• Senior independent Director of Centrica plc
• Board member of Ensco plc
• Senior advisor to Chatham House

Educational background

• Masters of Arts, Newnham College, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom