Michael Samuel is a philanthropist and businessman. He was Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Anna Freud Centre from 2003 until 2026 (having become a Trustee in 1993). In this role, he steered the growth of the charity, cementing its position as the leading children’s charity, dedicated to providing training and support for child mental health services.
In 2010, Michael co-founded Full Fact, a charity with the aim of checking and correcting facts reported in the news. He remained Chair of the cross-party Board of Trustees until 2026. . In 2023, Full Fact was awarded the British Academy President’s Medal in recognition of its work finding, exposing and countering misinformation and misleading claims.
Michael also Co-Founded and Chairs Civic, a not-for-profit which aims to support communities and organisations to accelerate impact. Civic works on a range of projects in the UK and overseas, for example working with Syrian refugees in Jordan and the Great Green Wall project in Africa.
Michael has a range of other charitable interests. In September 2022, he became Chairman...Michael Samuel is a philanthropist and businessman. He was Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Anna Freud Centre from 2003 until 2026 (having become a Trustee in 1993). In this role, he steered the growth of the charity, cementing its position as the leading children’s charity, dedicated to providing training and support for child mental health services.
In 2010, Michael co-founded Full Fact, a charity with the aim of checking and correcting facts reported in the news. He remained Chair of the cross-party Board of Trustees until 2026. . In 2023, Full Fact was awarded the British Academy President’s Medal in recognition of its work finding, exposing and countering misinformation and misleading claims.
Michael also Co-Founded and Chairs Civic, a not-for-profit which aims to support communities and organisations to accelerate impact. Civic works on a range of projects in the UK and overseas, for example working with Syrian refugees in Jordan and the Great Green Wall project in Africa.
Michael has a range of other charitable interests. In September 2022, he became Chairman of the Somerset Community Foundation, which funds local charities as well as inspires local giving and philanthropy.
After training as a chartered accountant, he built up Mayborn Group, specialising in baby products. He served as Chief Executive from 1978 to 2006, growing the business from a £1.5 to £115 million turnover.
He has been Chairman of outdoor clothing company, Muddy Puddles, since 2011, and is Chairman of Murex Energy. He was previously Chairman of AGL, a communications agency. He is a Conservative Party donor and also actively farms in Somerset and Scotland.
In 2020 Michael was awarded an MBE in recognition of his services to Young People and to Mental Health.READ MOREVIEW LESS
The Somerset Community Foundation is a charity that helps passionate people in Somerset change the world on their doorstep by funding local charities and inspiring local giving and philanthropy.
Civic is a global project with the aim of re-imagining and re-making the world, one neighbourhood at a time.
AGL
Chairman
Jan 2010
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2018
London, UK
AGL is an unconventional communications agency. They work with leaders in business, society and education, helping them find the courage to liberate themselves and do what they know is right: to communicate authentically – as people and as organisations.
Michael joined the family company, Mayborn Group in 1978. He then bought the majority of the company in 1980. At this point, the company employed approximately 150-200 people and turned over £1.5 m. Although Mayborn Group was at the time heavily loss-making Michael turned it around in 2 years. Michael then sold the Group to 3i private equity in 2006 for approximately £115m.
Rotala provides a range of transport solutions for businesses, local authorities, the public and private individuals.
The City Car Club
Non-Executive Chairman
Jan 2005
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Dec 2015
London, UK
City Car Club is one of the leading car club operators in the UK. With around 840 vehicles, it is the oldest and one of the largest car clubs operating at a national scale in the country. It was successfully sold in March 2015.
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Philanthropy
The Philanthropy Review
Board Member
Dec 2010
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Dec 2012
London, UK
The Philanthropy Review has been concerned with identifying, evidencing and advocating for practical measures which will increase giving in the immediate term and will build a stronger culture of philanthropy in the longer term.
Family Charitable Trusts
Chairman and Trustee
Jan 1990
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Present
London, UK
Hon A.G. Samuel Charitable Trust; Michael Samuel Charitable Trust; Col. W.H Micholls Trust; Peter Samuel Royal Free Hospital Trust; Peter Samuel Charitable Trust.
Prospect Burma has invested in the future of Myanmar through education helping their alumni go on to achieve incredible things, thereby facilitating the transformation of Myanmar through the application of their skills in the country.
Michael Samuel writes in The Point newspaper about the impact an African country hosting COP27 will have on world leaders, and the opportunities the event will provide to address the specific challenges to the environment Africa faces.
In this opinion piece published in School Week, Michael writes that the increased focus on mental health since the start of the pandemic should continue as a top priority.
