Compton Verney Enterprises Limited
(CVEL)

Compton Verney Enterprises Limited (CVEL) is a trading subsidiary for Compton Verney House Charity (CVHC). The Subsidiary is wholly owned by the Charity and exists to raise funds for the Charity to use for its charitable purposes.

CVEL monitors progress against relevant contractual arrangements and income streams within the remit of CVEL.  At times, CVEL will also consider the overall charitable income of CVHC where appropriate in relation to the CVEL income streams.

Helen Rose, Chair

Helen enjoyed a 30-year executive career working for many of the leading companies in the UK, successfully moving sectors and functional specialisms. With half her career in retail and hospitality businesses (Dixons, Safeway and Forte) and half in retail financial services (Lloyds Banking Group and TSB).

She held roles as a Finance Director and latterly as the Chief Operating Officer at TSB. She has extensive experience of leading transformational change. Helen began her career at Coopers and Lybrand where she qualified as a Chartered Accountant. Helen now balances a rich and varied portfolio as a Non-Executive Director (Greencore, a leading food manufacturer), Executive Coach, Trustee and Advisor.

Claire Lane

Claire Lane is Commercial Director at Oxford University’s Ashmolean Museum. She is responsible for leading a number of teams across the museum to generate and grow a range of critical income streams including retail, catering, venue hire, publishing, picture library and licensing.

Prior to joining the museum, Claire held a variety of senior commercial roles at TUI and John Lewis in the travel and retail sectors before moving into the heritage sector to work for the National Trust. Claire has led large commercial teams and held accountability for significant business P&Ls. She has built her career through being focused on delivering great customer experiences and around supporting teams to perform at their very best.

Penny Egan

Penny took on the role of Chair of CVHC in 2020 having recently retired as the Executive Director of the US-UK Fulbright Commission. She joined the Commission after stepping down as the Executive Director of the RSA where she was the first woman to have led the Society in its 250-year history. Prior to this, Penny was Programme Development Director at the RSA. Her early career included the posts of Press and Publicity Officer at the Crafts Council, Press Officer to the Prime Minister and Press Officer at the V&A Museum.

Penny has held several non executive roles. She is a lay Member of Council at the University of Reading. Previously she has been the Chair of the Museum of the Home a Lay Member of Council at the University of Warwick, Member of the Design Council, Trustee of DEMOS and Non-Executive Director of Wardour Publishing.

Penny received a CBE in 2013 in recognition of her contribution to international education. She is an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Art and the RSA.

Sam Henney

With a 25-year career spanning senior leadership positions and consultancy within the cultural sector, Sam brings a wealth of experience to Compton Verney. Her expertise extends across renowned institutions such as the National Theatre, Bodleian Libraries, and Disney Theatrical Productions, where she focused on commercial and marketing strategies.

Sam runs a coaching business tailored to the arts, heritage, and education sectors that empowers individuals and organisations to navigate complexities and drive impactful change. She also coaches via Oxford Cultural Leaders, a prestigious programme for leaders by the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School and its Gardens, Libraries, and Museums.

Based in Oxfordshire, she holds an advanced qualification in Executive Coaching from the Institute of Leadership & Management and membership of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council. Her academic background includes a degree in Mathematics and Music from the University of Kent.

Beyond her role at Compton Verney, Sam serves as a non-executive director at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and previously served as a trustee at Compton Verney, underscoring her dedication to governance and strategic oversight within the sector. Recognised for her contributions, she is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Sarah Morris

Sarah is a Business Consultant and Board advisor. She draws on her broad international experience with retailers such as John Lewis, Tesco and Marks & Spencer, where she held senior commercial roles. Most recently she was Commercial director at Signet Jewelers (H Samuel and Ernest Jones).  Digitally savvy, she has been instrumental in adapting organisational structures and processes to react to rapid on-line growth.

As a consultant she works with businesses to develop their commercial strategies and capability, mentoring directors and leading transformation programmes. Long-standing clients include El Corte Ingles in Spain, Fenwick and Seraphine, an on-line speciality maternity business.

A lover of the Arts, she has mentored leaders in Arts organisations. She is a Trustee of Chole Mjini, a trust focused on education and sustainable development in Tanzania.

Sarah studied history at the University of Cambridge and completed the Advanced Management Programme at INSEAD.