Luke Johnson

Luke Johnson is the chair of Risk Capital Partners, the leading investment firm with interests in travel, leisure and food.  He’s been running and investing in businesses since his student days and is noted as one of the most knowledgeable business voices in the country. He made his name by growing PizzaExpress from 12 to 250 outlets, and now chairs a range of companies and is co-founder of the think tank, The Institute of Entrepreneurs.

Starting out running nightclubs while studying medicine at Oxford, Luke then spent time as an analyst with the investment bank Kleinwort Benson. He later acquired, expanded and floated Pizza Express - increasing its market capitalisation to £500m. He went on chair Signature, which owned famous establishments like Belgo and The Ivy, before also going on to chair Channel 4 Television and the RSA. Today he also has interests in everything from artisan bakeries to marketing agencies.

As well as his business interests, Luke has a regular column in the Sunday Times, and has also written two books, Start It Up: Why Running Your Own Business Is Easier Than You Think, and Maverick: Dispatches from an Unrepentant Capitalist.