John Major

John Major (The Rt. Honorable John Major, CH) is Chairman of Carlyle Europe Carlyle Group.

Former Prime Minister John Major was appointed Chairman of Carlyle Europe in May 2001 and has been a member of Carlyle's European Advisory Board since 1998.

Mr. Major had a long and distinguished career as a Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom, serving in government for 16 years and as a cabinet member for 10 years. He became Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 1987. In 1989, he was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, before being appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer in October of that year. He was appointed Prime Minister on November 28, 1990, and served in that position until May 1997.

As Prime Minister, Mr. Major focused his efforts upon securing peace in Northern Ireland and upholding Britain's position in the world community as a political, social and economic leader. He was Prime Minister throughout the Gulf War and, at home, instigated long-term reforms in education, health and public services. On New Year's Day 1999, The Queen appointed him a Companion of Honour in recognition of his initiation of the Northern Ireland Peace Process. On the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, Mr. Major was appointed Legal Guardian to Their Royal Highnesses Princes William and Harry.

Mr. Major is a Non-Executive Director of the Mayflower Corporation and Chairman of the European Advisory Council of the Emerson Electric Company in St. Louis. He is Chairman of the Council of the Ditchley Foundation and on the International Advisory Boards of the Peres Center for Peace in Israel, the InterAction Council in Tokyo, and the Baker Institute for Public Policy in Houston. Major also served as president of Surrey County Cricket Club and helped raise funds to improve the facilities at the Oval Stadium.


 * Cofounder, Conservative Foundation
 * Former Patron, 21st Century Trust
 * Patron (2011), National Forest Charitable Trust