Kew Foundation appoints new trustees to the board

The Kew Foundation today announces that it has appointed James Murdoch, Chairman and Chief Executive, Europe and Asia, News Corporation, and his wife Kathryn Murdoch, Head of Strategy & Communications, the Clinton Climate Initiative, jointly to the Board of Trustees.

James and Kathryn will share responsibilities on the Board, making available their considerable joint experience and expertise.

Commenting on the appointment, Marcus Agius, Chairman of the Kew Foundation said: "It is great news for the Kew Foundation that James and Kathryn Murdoch have together agreed to join the Board of Trustees. They are both passionate environmentalists and have a strong record of supporting the Green Agenda. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has a vital role to play in the global debate on preserving and protecting our environment and we are fortunate to have two such important new ambassadors".

Commenting, James Murdoch said: "I am delighted to have this opportunity to become involved with the Kew Foundation. Climate change poses very real challenges to our world and the Foundation is taking significant steps to help us meet these challenges with its valuable work to promote science-based plant conservation worldwide."

Kathryn Murdoch said: "From developing projects like Kew 's Millennium Seed Bank, to working with multinationals to promote sustainable biodiversity practices, the Kew Foundation is leading the way in its very practical approach to conservation. We all have a responsibility to our environment and I look forward to working with the Foundation to help promote future change."

The appointment is unpaid and will run until 30 April 2012 .

Ends

• For further information please contact Anna Quenby, RBG Kew Press Office, +44 (0)20 8332 5607, pr@kew.org or Alice Macandrew, News Corporation, +44 (0)20 7782 6019
   

Notes to Editors

Biographical details

James Murdoch was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive, Europe and Asia, News Corporation, in 2007. In this role, he has direct responsibility for the strategic and operational development of News Corporation 's television, newspaper and related digital assets in Europe , Asia and the Middle East . At the same time, James was appointed Non-Executive Chairman of BSkyB and re-joined the Board of News Corporation . Additionally, he will join the Board of GlaxoSmithKline as a Non-Executive Director in May 2009. James served as Chief Executive Officer of BSkyB from 2003 to 2007 and was previously Chairman and CEO of Star TV. James serves on the Board of Yankee Global Enterprises, the Board of Trustees of the Harvard Lampoon, the Indian School of Business and the Leadership Council of The Climate Group. James has been instrumental in promoting more sustainable business practices. Under his leadership, BSkyB, in 2006, became the first major media company in the world to become carbon neutral.

Kathryn Murdoch is a senior director at the Clinton Climate Initiative. She heads Strategy and Communications, as well as managing CCI 's partnership with Microsoft in the development of a global greenhouse gas emissions tracking software. She also conceived and oversaw a project that collected and analyzed Best Practices in emissions reduction in cities.
Prior to joining CCI in 2006, she has held a variety of positions in marketing, communications and business development, primarily in the fashion and media arenas. She is a director and partner of New York based Thakoon LLC, and sits on the advisory bard of the Carbon Disclosure Project.

The Kew Foundation

Established as an independent charity in 1990, the Foundation & Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (the Foundation) raises much needed funds from individuals, companies and trusts to support Kew''s work. The Foundation is a Company limited by guarantee, regulated by the Charity Commission and governed by its Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees for Kew Foundation, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew comprises a Chairman and 9 members.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a world famous scientific organisation, internationally respected for its outstanding living collection of plants and world-class herbarium as well as its scientific expertise in plant diversity, conservation and sustainable development in the UK and around the world. Kew Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major international visitor attraction. Its 132 hectares of landscaped gardens attract over one million visitors per year. In 2009 RBG Kew celebrates its 250th anniversary.