Sir Ben Elliot | |
|---|---|
| Chairman of the Conservative Party | |
| In office 24 July 2019 – 5 September 2022 Serving with James Cleverly (2019–2020) Amanda Milling (2020–2021) Oliver Dowden (2021–2022) Andrew Stephenson (2022) | |
| Deputy | |
| Leader | Boris Johnson |
| Preceded by | Brandon Lewis |
| Succeeded by | Jake Berry |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Benjamin William Elliot (1975-08-11)11 August 1975 (age 50) Dorset, England |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents |
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| Relatives |
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| Education | Eton College |
| Alma mater | University of Bristol (BSc) |
Sir Benjamin William Elliot[1] (born 11 August 1975) is a British businessman and fund-raiser for theConservative Party who served asCo-Chairman of the Conservative Party from July 2019 alongsideJames Cleverly (2019–2020),Amanda Milling (2020–2021),Oliver Dowden (2021–2022), andAndrew Stephenson (2022) before resigning on 5 September 2022. In 2018, Elliot was appointed byMichael Gove, theSecretary of State for the Environment, as the UK government's first Food Surplus and Waste Champion. Elliot is the co-founder of theQuintessentially Group, a global luxuryconcierge service, and the co-founder of Hawthorn Advisors, a communications consultancy based in London.[2][3] He is a nephew ofQueen Camilla.
Elliot was born and raised inDorset, England. He is the son of Simon Elliot, a Dorset landowner, andAnnabel Elliot (née Shand), an interior designer andantiques dealer.[4] He has two sisters. His mother is the sister ofQueen Camilla[5] andMark Shand.[6] His paternal grandparents wereAir Chief Marshal Sir William Elliot and Rosemary Chancellor, daughter ofSir John Chancellor.[7] His maternal grandparents were MajorBruce Shand andthe Hon.Rosalind Cubitt.[8] Elliot was educated atEton College and theUniversity of Bristol, graduating with aBSc in Politics and Economics.[9]
Elliot is theco-founder ofQuintessentially Group, a luxury lifestyle group with a 24-hour global concierge service, which he started in London in December 2000.[10] The company has boasted about how it serves wealthy Russian clients, which includes opening an office in Russia and creating a "dedicated Russian team".[11] AfterRussia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the company deleted its webpage that boasted about serving Russian elite clients.[12]
He is a regular contributor to theFinancial Times,The New York Times andCountry Life amongst other publications.[13][14]Elliot was included in theEvening Standard's Progress 1000 list, named as one of 'London's most influential people 2016 - Business Brains'.[15] He was the executive producer of the award-winning documentaryFire in Babylon.[16]
Elliot acted as treasurer for the Conservative Party's2016 London mayoral campaign forZac Goldsmith and was responsible for all campaign fundraising efforts.[17] Elliot acts as a trustee for the Eranda Rothschild Foundation[18] and has been Chairman of the Philanthropy Board of theRoyal Albert Hall[19][20] since 2015. In December 2016, he was appointed as a trustee to the board of theVictoria and Albert Museum by Prime MinisterTheresa May. The four-year term officially commenced on 1 January 2017.[21] Following October 2017's relaunch of theCentre for Policy Studies, Elliot was asked byLord Saatchi to join his board as honorary treasurer.[22]
In December 2018, Elliot was appointed byMichael Gove, thesecretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, as the government's first Food Surplus and Waste Champion. Following Elliot's appointment, Gove commented: "Food waste is an economic, environmental and moral scandal. We must end it. That's why I am delighted Ben Elliot is taking up this position and know he will bring the enthusiasm and skills this important role needs. His first task will be to help ensure our £15 million food waste fund redistributes surplus food that would otherwise be wasted to those most in need."[23]
In July 2019, Elliot was appointed by incomingPrime MinisterBoris Johnson as theco-chairman of the Conservative Party, working alongside fellow co-chairmanJames Cleverly.[24] Cleverly was demoted to become a jointForeign Office andDepartment for International Development minister in the2020 cabinet reshuffle and was replaced as Chairman byAmanda Milling. Milling was succeeded byOliver Dowden in the2021 cabinet reshuffle. Dowden resigned in June 2022.
Elliot is a founding trustee of the Quintessentially Foundation charity,[25] which has raised in excess of £13 million for charitable causes since 2008.[26][27][23]
In 2021, BBC News described Elliot as the "Tories' chief fundraiser".[28] He raised nearly £2 million from donors with links to theVladimir Putin regime in Russia.[11]
Elliot married Mary-Clare Winwood, US-born daughter of the musicianSteve Winwood, in Gloucestershire in 2011.[4] They have two sons and live inWest London.[4] Elliot is a member of5 Hertford Street, a private members' club inMayfair, London.[29] His son Arthur was apage of honour to his grand aunt,Queen Camilla, ather coronation on 6 May 2023.[30]
Elliot was appointed aKnight Bachelor on 9 June 2023 as part of the2022 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours.[31][32]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Chairman of the Conservative Party 2019–2022 With:James Cleverly (2019–2020) Amanda Milling (2020–2021) Oliver Dowden (2021–2022) | Succeeded by |