Rakesh is the Managing Partner and Group Chairman of MHA, as well as Chairman of the firm’s London Head Office and the Southern Region. In addition to his governance role, much of his time is devoted to business advisory work with a diverse portfolio of clients. He is head of the firm’s Financial Services and lead Partner of Baker Tilly’s global financial sector team. Rakesh also leads on the firms work in the Natural Resources arena and with Listed Companies and Public Interest Entities. Rakesh is the Reporting and Relationship Partner for two listed companies, a number of other Public Interest Entities, seven UK banks and the European arm of one of the largest banks in the world.

As a senior director of Baker Tilly International, Rakesh is proactively leading collaborative working between Baker Tilly International global offices. Rakesh is a non-executive director of a listed Real Estate Investment Trust and Chairman of the Audit, Risk & Compliance Committee. Until recently he was also Chairman of the Risk and Audit Committee of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

Jonathan spent 30 years working in the professional services sector, most recently at Grant Thornton International, where he was responsible for the organisation’s interest in China. He is the author of three books about China and is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Jonathan is a fellow of the IoD, and prior to his appointment as director general, he was chair of IoD Yorkshire and North East region.

Mark is a Chartered Accountant and corporate financier with special interests in food & farming, rural business, ESG and a belief that business must be underpinned by sustainable finance. He established Rural Policy Group in 2019 following 16 years in the rural economy working with both public and private sector businesses. Mark has won numerous awards for his work including Finance Director of the Year 2007, Accounting for Sustainability 2012 (ICEAW), National Business Finance Director 2014 (Finance Director) and the Institute of Directors Blue Ribbon award for Governance and Finance Excellence in 2018.

Mark is a member of the ICAEW Farming and Rural Business Committee and a CBI Southeast Councillor.