Acas Chair reappointed and new Acas Council members

The Department for Business and Trade has announced that Clare Chapman has been reappointed as Chair of the Acas Council for a further three-year term.

Other new appointments to the Acas Council include:

  • Martin McTague, National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
  • Kevin Rowan, Head of Organisation and Services Department at the Trade Union Congress (TUC)

They will begin their first three-year term at the next Acas Council meeting on 20 September 2023.

Acas Chief Executive, Susan Clews said:

"I am delighted that Clare has been reappointed as our Chair for a further 3 years. Clare brings wide expertise to the role and continuity is very important to us as we continue to build on our excellent performance throughout previous years.

"I also want to welcome Martin and Kevin to the Acas Council. They bring a wealth of knowledge, insight and connections that will help Acas grow and extend our reach and impact. I look forward to working with them."

Clare Chapman biography

Clare has been Chair of Acas since 27 July 2020, Non-Executive Director and Remuneration Chair at M&G since 2021, Non-Executive Director at the Weir Group Plc since 2017 and Co-Founder of the Purposeful Company since 2015.

Clare previously served as Group People Director at BT Group and before that, Director General of Workforce at the Department of Health.

Clare also served as a Low Pay Commissioner from March 2015 until July 2020, when she took up the Acas Chair post.

Martin McTague biography

Martin McTague started his own business 35 years ago and currently owns and manages three businesses – offering public policy, engineering, and IT consultancy services.

With over more than 3 decades running businesses, Martin has worked with institutional investors, operating sophisticated financial management systems, marketing complex IT systems and managing more than 60 employees.

He has served as a volunteer with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) for more than 20 years, in a variety of roles including Chairman of the Local Government Policy Unit and National Policy Chairman.

He is currently a Low Pay Commissioner and National Chair of the FSB, the UK's leading business lobbying organisation.

Kevin Rowan biography

Kevin Rowan was the Regional Secretary of the Northern Trade Union Congress (TUC) for 10 years before taking on the role of Head of Organisation and Services Department. Kevin is also responsible for workplace learning and the TUC's extensive programme of workplace representative training.

He leads a team of 80 staff, including the TUC's public services, transport, skills, health and safety and trade union renewal teams, regional and Wales offices, and is Head of Personnel and Development at the TUC.

Kevin has had many non-executive director roles over his career from 2002 to present, mainly representing the interests of workers, collaborating with other board members to tackle issues such as HSE effectiveness, inclusion, learning and development and equality and diversity.

Media enquiries

Contact the Acas press office