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Christopher Rodrigues
Chairman
VisitBritain

Christopher Rodrigues CBE (b. 1950) is the Chairman of VisitBritain, having previously held senior positions with a number of well-known industry operators including Thomas Cook and Ladbrokes plc.

Christopher graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in Economics and Economic History before attaining an MBA from the Harvard Business School. He rowed for Cambridge in the 1970 and 1971 Boat Race, is a past-Chairman of Leander Club and is a Steward of Henley Royal Regatta. From 1976 he was a Manager at McKinsey and Co, before spending nine years with American Express. In 1988, he joined Thomas Cook, where he served as Chief Operating Officer and Group Chief Executive before becoming Group Chief Executive at Bradford and Bingley from 1996–2004. Also during this period, he was a founder non-Executive Director of the Financial Services Authority. From 2004–2006, he served as President and Chief Executive at Visa International.

Christopher became Chairman of VisitBritain in January 2007, later piloting the industry through the 2012 Olympics, and continuing to nurture the growth in tourism in its wake. He is also Chairman of International Personal Finance plc and The Windsor Leadership Trust. He has been an independent non-Executive Director at Ladbrokes plc (formerly Hilton Group plc) since 2003 and is an Executive Committee Member of the World Travel and Tourism Council. He was also a member of the Council and Executive Committee of the National Trust.

Christopher was awarded a CBE in 2007 for services to British business interests and charitable works in the UK and USA.

Christopher was honoured by the British Travel & Hospitality Hall of Fame in 2011.