2009-07-29 14:24:51 - Graham Cartledge CBE, Chairman, Benoy has joined the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) Executive Board.

“India is a stimulating market for Benoy and the creative industries. I have long been associated with the UKIBC and strongly support its mission to help realise the enormous opportunities presented by India.
During the first UKIBC Ministerial business delegation in January 2006, Benoy secured three major retail projects. We have since become a recognised brand with over 30 developments across the country. I am proud to say that Benoy is designing some of its most interesting and innovative international schemes in India – both in established and emerging cities.
The UKIBC is an important organisation for the promotion of business and cross-collaboration. I am delighted to join the UKIBC Executive Board and look forward to giving something back!” said

Graham Cartledge CBE, Chairman, Benoy.
The Nominations Committee recommended the nominations to the Board, which accepted Cartledge’s appointment. This was ratified by the AGM on 16 July. The Board members will be involved in the shared responsibilities of: ensuring good corporate governance; steering the strategic direction of the UKIBC; and spreading the message to UK business of the great business opportunities in India. There are five women in our Board, which has 25 members.
Welcoming him to the Board, Sharon Bamford, UKIBC CEO said, “Benoy, and in particular, Graham have been long standing supporters of the UKIBC. His expertise and experience will add incredible value to the Board and our common goals.”
Meanwhile, the Rt. Hon. Patricia Hewitt, MP, has been appointed as the new UKIBC chair. UKIBC is also delighted to announce that Clive Barker , Serco, Parvinder Bhatia, Prime Focus, Mathew Kirk , Vodafone, Deepak Lalwani, Astaire & Partners Stockbrokers and Roy Newey, A4E have also joined the UKIBC board.
Bamford added, “Their knowledge, experience and networks will add an incredible value to our work and programmes.”
NOTE TO EDITORS
For more information please email ishara.callan@ukibc.com
ABOUT UKIBC
The UK India Business Council (UKIBC) is the lead membership-led organisation supporting the British Government in the promotion of bilateral trade, business and investment between the two countries.
Through the facilitation of partnerships, and with the support of an extensive network of influential corporate and individual members, UKIBC provides the resource, knowledge and infrastructure support vital for UK companies to make the most of emerging opportunities in India.
ABOUT Graham Cartledge CBE
Graham Cartledge CBE became Chairman of award-winning, international Architecture practice Benoy in 1992 following his management buy-out, which transformed the commercial nature of the business.
Whilst specialising in retail design as the Architects of Bluewater in Kent, the Bullring in Birmingham and Elements Mall in Hong Kong, Graham has worked tirelessly and successfully to establish Benoy as a world-leading brand engaged on projects in over 36 countries. Under his leadership, Benoy has experienced phenomenal growth by trading its design expertise internationally since 2002, and diversifying away from its traditional sector to work in the urban regeneration, reconstruction, transportation, high-rise, hospitality, sports and leisure sectors.
Graham believes that to work internationally you have to think locally and opened offices in Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Shanghai and Singapore to complement the existing UK operations. Striving to promote the British creative offering overseas, Graham has worked closely with UKTI and been a proactive member of the UK India Business Council for the past four years. In 2007, Benoy was named UKTI’s New Market Entrant of the Year in India.
Graham’s dedicated design team in the region is currently contributing to the development of major sites in Aurangabad, Bangalore, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Delhi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Jamshedpur, Jodhpur, Kolkata, Kurla, Mumbai, Mysore and Pune.
In 2007, Graham and his wife Jo established the Benoy Foundation – a charitable trust that supports tangible, lasting projects in building, sustainability, community and education throughout the UK and across the world. The Benoy Foundation has built 140 homes for Dalit families on the outskirts of Bangalore in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Last year, Benoy sent an international team out to India to build one of these homes.
Graham is a Non-Executive Director of Nottingham Forest FC and a Judge for the Annual Prince Philip Designers Prize. He is also an Ambassador for The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. Last year, Graham received a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to architecture and charity.