Ben Terrett CBE

CEO of Public Digital, Chair of Art UK

London, England, United Kingdom

About

I’m the CEO of Public Digital, a global technology strategy consultancy. We work with governments, global development funders and blue chip corporations on 6 continents. We founded PD in 2018 and have grown the business to 110+ people. In May 2025 we were awarded a King's Award for Enterprise for International Trade. I hold several non-executive roles including at Lexington Communications and as a member of the HS2 Design Panel. Previously, I served as Deputy Chair of University of the Arts London and Deputy President of D&AD. In June 2025 I received a CBE for services to design in the King's Birthday Honours List. I’m most well known for the design of GOV.UK and was made a Royal Designer for Industry in 2018, the first elected for Service Design. My recognition in the industry includes an Honorary Doctorate in design from Central Saint Martins, induction into the Design Week Hall of Fame, winning the Design Museum's Design of the Year, and receiving a D&AD Black Pencil.

Experience

  • Public Digital (10 yrs 7 mos)
    • CEO
      Apr 2018 - Present · 8 yrs 3 mos

      From startup to a global consultancy working with governments, UN agencies, global development funders and FTSE 100 companies to design and deliver digital transformation.

    • Partner
      Dec 2015 - Mar 2018 · 2 yrs 4 mos

  • Chair at Art UK
    Feb 2026 - Present · 5 mos

  • Non Executive Director at Lexington
    Aug 2022 - Present · 3 yrs 11 mos

  • Member of Independent Design Panel at HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd
    Nov 2015 - Present · 10 yrs 8 mos

  • University of the Arts London (10 yrs)
    • Deputy Chair
      Sep 2022 - Aug 2024 · 2 yrs

      I chaired the Remuneration Committee, the Digital Committee, the Student Experience Advisory Group and was a member of the Nominations Committee and the Conferments Committee. I occasionally sat on HR appeal panels.

    • Governor
      Sep 2014 - Aug 2024 · 10 yrs

      University of the Arts London is Europe’s largest specialist arts and design university, with close to 19,000 students from more than 100 countries. Currently ranked no2 in the QS world rankings.