UK FINANCE CHAIR BOB WIGLEY BACKS ROYAL MARINES COMMANDOS

Bob Wigley, Chair of UK Finance, has become Vice Patron of RMA-The Royal Marines Charity.  Bob will be an ambassador and advocate for the charity, especially within the business community. He will also provide strategic advice to the charity’s team, on income generation and business partnerships.

The Charity is grateful to the Royal Marines Club for this valuable introduction. Bob has been the honorary President of RM Club since 2019 and will continue to hold this appointment.

The newly created role will complement that of the Patron, General Sir Gordon Messenger KCB DSO* OBE, former Vice Chief of the Defence staff, who focuses on promoting the Charity within Government, the defence industry and wider military community.

The Charity’s Royal Patron is HM The Queen, and the honorary President is Commandant General Royal Marines, Major General Matt Holmes CBE DSO .

RMA-The Royal Marines Charity has over 100,000 beneficiaries amongst serving Royal Marines, their families and veterans. It provides a lifetime of support to the whole Royal Marines community - once a Marine, always a Marine. The Charity’s team helps them overcome a variety of sometimes complex challenges and hardships to ensure no one is left behind – whether that’s for life-changing injuries, mental health problems, illness, transition to civilian life, or poverty.

Whilst major military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are over, for many Royal Marines and their families the fighting continues, and there is an increasing need for support to the RM community, especially for veterans with mental health challenges.

Jonathan Ball, Chief Executive, RMA-The Royal Marines Charity said:

“Like many charities, we are facing a serious funding deficit this year with almost all 2020 fundraising events and activity cancelled, compounded by the lack of big events such as the London Marathon. Bob’s business experience and connections are world class and as Vice Patron he will add great value to our work, as the Charity grows and evolves.” 

Bob Wigley, Chair of UK Finance said:

“The UK’s Royal Marines are admired throughout the world as an elite fighting force with great courage and determination. They serve their country selflessly but that can come at a cost and that’s where the Charity steps in. As Vice Patron I want to use my skills, contacts and experience to help the Charity thrive and continue its excellent support to those Royal Marines and veterans in need, and their families.”

Background information:

Bob Wigley is chair of UK Finance which represents over 250 firms across the banking and finance industry, working to enhance competitiveness, facilitate innovation, and promote safety and transparency.

He previously worked in banking at Morgan Grenfell and Merrill Lynch, and was a member of the Court of the Bank of England for three years. Currently, Bob is working with leaders in the financial services industry to design ways of helping businesses with heavy debt get back on their feet following the COVID-19 crisis.

Other roles:

  • 2011 - Ambassador for UK Business under Prime Minister David Cameron

  • 2009-2010 - Chaired the UK Green Investment Bank Commission for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne

  • 2008 - Chaired a panel of financial services CEOs for Boris Johnson, then Mayor of London and produced a report on how to maintain London's global competitiveness.

  • 2007 - Authored a report for the Prime Minister on how to improve school governance, using lessons from the corporate world. 

  • Past Master of the Court of the Worshipful Company of International Bankers

  • Former Trustee of Terence Conran's Design Museum

  • Former Trustee of children’s charity, Whizz-Kidz

RMA-The Royal Marines Charity delivers support to the Royal Marines community, providing:

  • A membership association with over 15,000 members in 87 branches worldwide, and a series of national and international events for members

  •  A welfare team delivering a wide range of services ranging from financial grants, addiction education and advice, mental health therapy, and a pensions and tribunals advice service

  • An employment and education team offering advice, funding and networking to enable medically discharged and vulnerable Marines who are leaving the Corps to find work;

  • A wide range of fundraising activities and events

  • The Royal Marines Shop – donating all profits to the charity

For more information please contact enquiries@rma-trmc.org or call 01392 346424

Roger Dobson