Institute of Directors

For other uses, see Institute of Directors (India) and Institute of Directors in New Zealand.

Institute of Directors
Founded1903; 121 years ago (1903)
TypeProfessional organisation
FocusBusiness leaders
Headquarters116 Pall Mall
London, SW1
United Kingdom
Members
20,000+
Director General
Jonathan Geldart[1]
Websitewww.iod.com

The Institute of Directors (IoD) is a British professional organisation for company directors, senior business leaders and entrepreneurs. It is the UK's longest running organisation for professional leaders, having been founded in 1903 and incorporated by royal charter in 1906. The charter charged the IoD with promoting free enterprise, lobbying government and setting standards for corporate governance.[2]

The IoD is based in a Grade I listed building at 116 Pall Mall in London, formerly the United Service Club. Members of the IoD also gain access to co-working spaces around the UK, bespoke market intelligence, tailored tax and legal support, and exclusive member-only events along with discounts on IoD professional development courses and events.

From a high of 55,000 members in 2005, the IoD had just over 20,000 full members in 2021,[3] with membership stabilising year on year.[4] Members of the IoD come from companies of all sizes and from all industries.[5] Around 70% are self-employed or work for small and medium-sized enterprises, while 78% of FTSE 100 companies have an IoD member on their board or in a senior management position.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference geldart was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "About IoD". Institute of Directors. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  3. ^ "2021 Annual Report" (PDF). Institute of Directors. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  4. ^ "IoD Annual Report 2021" (PDF). Institute of Directors.
  5. ^ "Annual report". Institute of Directors. Retrieved 4 October 2022.