Hugh Robertson (politician)

Sir Hugh Michael Robertson (born 9 October 1962) is a British businessman and former politician who is the current Chair of the British Olympic Association and of Birmingham Airport. He was Chair of Camelot Group, operator of the National Lottery, between 2018 and 2023.

He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Faversham and Mid Kent from 2001 to 2015.

He was Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs until July 2014, having previously been the Minister for Sport and for the Olympics.

Education
Robertson was educated at The King's School, Canterbury. He read Land Management at the University of Reading from 1982 to 1985, obtaining a BSc (Hons) degree, before attending the RMA Sandhurst between 1985 and 1986.

In March 2014, Robertson was awarded a Distinguished Fellowship by the University of Reading in recognition of the role he played in the London 2012 Olympics.

Career
Robertson served as an officer in the Life Guards from 1982 to 1995, rising to the rank of Major. Robertson saw active service in Northern Ireland, Cyprus, The Gulf War and served with the UN peacekeeping force UNPROFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1993, he commanded the Household Cavalary for the Queen's birthday parade at the state opening of Parliament.

From 1995 until 2001, he was a banker with the investment management division of Schroders, then head of new business development for the property division.

Parliamentary career
Robertson was the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Faversham and Mid Kent from 2001-2015.

Having shadowed this post in Opposition, he was appointed a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State as the Minister for Sport and the Olympics in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in May 2010.

In September 2012, he was appointed as Minister of State in the Department of Culture, Media and Sport as the Minister for Sport, Olympic Legacy Tourism, and was sworn as a Privy Councillor in October.

In October 2013, he was appointed Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

He stood down from government in the 2014 reshuffle and was knighted for his work as Minister for the Olympics during London 2012 and his work in the Middle East.

In January 2015 Robertson announced that he would stand down from Parliament at the next general election.

Post-Parliamentary appointments
In June 2015, Robertson was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent. In November 2016, he succeeded Sebastian Coe as Chair of the British Olympic Association.

From 2017 to 2023 Robertson served as the Independent Chair of the Sports Honours Committee.

In June 2018, Robertson was announced as the Chair of Camelot Group. He joined Genius Sports as a Board Advisor in May 2022.

In January 2023 Robertson stepped down as Chair of Camelot. In June 2023 he was announced as the new Chair of Birmingham Airport.

Personal life
Robertson married Anna Copson in May 2002. The wedding had to be rescheduled at short notice after the death of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. They have one son.

Honours
Sir Hugh has received the following decorations:
 * UK Order St-Michael St-George ribbon.svg KCMG
 * General Service Medal 1962 BAR.svg General Service Medal
 * UNFICYP.gif UNFICYP Medal
 * Gulf Medal BAR.svg Gulf War Medal
 * UNPROFOR Medal bar.gif UNPROFOR Medal (Bosnia)
 * NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg NATO Medal (Former Yugoslavia)
 * Brunei Meritorious Service Medal.