Alan's career spans business, government and the arts. Working with high profile global clients he became Chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi, based in both London and New York. He was then appointed Chief Executive of the COI (Central Office of Information) the department responsible for the government’s major marketing and communication campaigns, the Government News Network and DirectGov (Now Gov.UK). Subsequently he pursued his passion for the arts as Chief Executive of Southbank Centre with the mission to open it up to all the people across all art forms. Most recently he has been able to apply all this experience as Chief Executive of the Creative Industries Federation, representing a creative economy now worth over £100 billion. He is now delighted to focus on the exciting future for The Place.