eoa International Ambassador Graeme Nuttall Named NCEO Fellow

The move strengthens and supports the eoa’s ongoing international policy work and creates stronger ties with our partners in the US.

Image: Graeme Nuttall with a backdrop of Oakland, California (Getty Signature Images)

Graeme Nuttall OBE, eoa International Ambassador and champion of the employee ownership trust model, has become a Fellow of the National Centre of Employee Ownership (NCEO) in the US.

The move provides further connective tissue between the eoa and the NCEO as we take an increasingly vested role in the international growth of EO and cross-pollination of knowledge and best practice.

“I’m delighted the US National Centre for Employee Ownership (NCEO) has joined with the UK eoa to support my various initiatives to promote employee ownership internationally,” said Graeme.

“It’s an honour for these efforts to be recognised with my appointment as an NCEO Fellow.”  

A Storied Career

Not only is Graeme one of the key innovators behind the EOT model here in the UK but has taken a leading role in exporting that model around the globe.

Since 2016, Graeme’s been frequently found speaking at NCEO events, as well as collaborating on resources and outreach. Not to mention providing support and insight as the nascent EOT form continues to grow stateside.

In fact, he’s recently authored the UK-focused chapter in the NCEO’s Expanding Employee Ownership booklet published earlier this month.

“I’ve worked with the NCEO for a long time. I consulted the NCEO in my capacity as the UK Government’s independent adviser on employee ownership when writing the Nuttall Review of Employee Ownership in 2012,” said Graeme.

“When I had the idea that the UK’s employee ownership trust (EOT) model could be exported, I turned to Loren [Rogers – Executive Director, NCEO]. He welcomed me to the NCEO’s 2016 annual conference in Minneapolis, introduced me to Chris Michael who had the same idea, and together we launched modern era EOTs in the States.  

“Growing interest in alternatives in the US, to the predominant ESOP model, meant I was invited back to speak at the 2017 annual conference in Denver and subsequent NCEO events.

“Jumping forward a few years, the pedigree of the ESOP and the massive growth in EOTs in the UK has awakened interest around the world in employee ownership models. 

“Other countries are revamping or introducing models, especially as a business succession solution. Combined know-how from the US and UK is informing good policymaking elsewhere. 

This is seen in a new NCEO publication, edited by its Founder, Corey Rosen, called 'Expanding Employee Ownership: Models in the US, UK, France, Canada, and Slovenia'. I contributed the chapter comparing ESOPs and EOTs. I’m already working on other joint projects with the NCEO. Watch this space!”

Going Further

In his newly appointed NCEO Fellow role, Graeme will continue the above collaborations on a more consistent and formal basis. 

This will include authoring publications, contributing to the design of and taking part in NCEO events, and continuing to provide his experience and expertise to the NCEO community via other channels. 

Moreover, the NCEO is joining the eoa and others in supporting Graeme’s international employee ownership policy making.

Keep an eye on our International EO page to stay up to date with Graeme’s activity.