Rain Newton-Smith

It was announced in April 2023 that Rain Newton-Smith would return to the CBI, the Confederation of British Industry, to become its Director General, and to rebuild the organisation. Previously she had served as Chief Economist at the CBI with responsibility for analysis and survey before a short time as Managing Director, Strategy and Policy, Sustainability and ESG at Barclays plc.

Formerly Head of Emerging Markets at Oxford Economics Rain Newton-Smith led the coordination of emerging markets macro forecast projects, including the monitoring and analysis of maturities in China involving the projection of  ‘what if’ scenarios. These incorporated international risk scenarios and the potential effects of a major Chinese banking-sector crisis.

Prior to joining Oxford Economics, Rain worked for nine years at the Bank of England. Her roles included preparing global forecast for the Monetary Policy Committee, evaluating the supply-side determinants of the UK economy, and acting as a research advisor to Richard Lambert, a former member of the MPC. In 2004, Rain started a two-year secondment as an advisor to the UK Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC.

She was deeply involved with governmental projects investigating Middle Eastern financial stability and economic development matters. Rain’s continuing experience resulted in leading a task force that contributed to the Bank of England’s Financial Stability Report.

In addition to having an MSc in Economics from LSE – concentrating on international trade studied Politics, Rain studied Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University.

In 2010, Rain was chosen as one of Management Today’s 35 Women Under 35. In 2012 the World Economic Forum officially recognized her as Young Global Leader.

Rain Newton-Smith’s current specialised topics include:

Global economic outlook for 2025

International risk scenarios

What does weaker growth over the medium term in China (and rest of BRICs) mean for the global economy?

The impact of QE and portfolio flows on emerging market prospects

The prospects for global trade between emerging markets and advanced economies

Rain Newton-Smith led the CBI response to the British government’s financial interventions during the Coronavirus emergency and speaks on the proposed UK Government changes to the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol as it affects business.