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The Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade’s executive committee is responsible for setting the organisation’s strategic direction and overseeing its operations.
Led by director general Marco Forgione, the executive committee comprises six directors who collectively lead the Chartered Institute’s work. Together, they bring extensive leadership experience across a wide range of disciplines and sectors, including government, retail, FMCG, telecommunications, aviation, media, financial services and trade associations.
This breadth of expertise ensures the Chartered Institute benefits from diverse perspectives and informed insight, strengthening its role as the United Kingdom’s Royal Charter body for international trade.
As director general of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade since January 2020, Marco Forgione MCIEx has become a leading authority and commentator on global trade, empowering businesses to grow internationally through educational programmes and digital trade solutions.
He is a key intermediator between governments and businesses domestically and overseas, sitting on the Critical Imports Council in the UK and on the multilateral B20 Taskforce for Trade and Investment. He is a visiting professor at Aston University and regularly comments on trade and supply chain matters in the international media, including the BBC, Sky News, CNN, Al Jazeera and Bloomberg, among others.
Under his leadership, the Chartered Institute has grown from a team of 12 to now over 170 trade and customs experts, seeing membership grow from 2,000 to 7,000, culminating in the organisation being awarded a Royal Charter in 2024. The charity has become a trusted partner to the UK government in the delivery of trade facilitation solutions such as the Trader Support Service (TSS). This digital portal has enabled the continuation of goods movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.
Forgione is also a passionate advocate for trade as a force for good in the world, regularly commenting in the media that it is a driver of economic prosperity and that it can serve to bring communities closer together. He has led the Chartered Institute into partnerships with the World Trade Organization and International Trade Centre that have built trade capacity among MSMEs and female entrepreneurs. He also entered the organisation into the TLIP Institute – a global collaboration to develop a new digital infrastructure for trade – alongside the World Economic Forum, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, the IOTA Foundation, TradeMark Africa and the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation.
Before the Chartered Institute, Forgione led trade bodies in the arts, antiques and creative sectors, navigating the British Antiques Dealers’ Association through digital transformation between 2015 and 2020, and leading creative bodies EVCOM and the International Visual Communication Association between 2008 and 2015. He also previously had director level roles at Canterbury College and the Landscape Institute.
Mark Gordon joined the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade in January 2024, bringing extensive experience in corporate financial affairs, commercial and operational management. Mark leads the finance, projects and ICT teams and works with the Executive Committee on operational delivery.
Prior to joining the Chartered Institute, Mark worked in professional services and information technology companies in senior finance and general management roles.
Chris Martin joined the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade in January 2023, bringing two decades of experience in strategic communications, public affairs, and government relations.
As corporate affairs director he leads a multi-disciplinary team based in our Westminster office, with responsibility for strengthening the Chartered Institute’s influence, engagement and growth across diverse regions and international markets.
Prior to joining the Chartered Institute, Chris held leadership roles in global communications consultancies, including Ketchum and Hume Brophy (Penta), advising clients ranging from multinational corporations and FTSE 100 companies to trade associations and NGOs.
As director general of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade since January 2020, Marco Forgione MCIEx has become a leading authority and commentator on global trade, empowering businesses to grow internationally through educational programmes and digital trade solutions.
He is a key intermediator between governments and businesses domestically and overseas, sitting on the Critical Imports Council in the UK and on the multilateral B20 Taskforce for Trade and Investment. He is a visiting professor at Aston University and regularly comments on trade and supply chain matters in the international media, including the BBC, Sky News, CNN, Al Jazeera and Bloomberg, among others.
Under his leadership, the Chartered Institute has grown from a team of 12 to now over 170 trade and customs experts, seeing membership grow from 2,000 to 7,000, culminating in the organisation being awarded a Royal Charter in 2024. The charity has become a trusted partner to the UK government in the delivery of trade facilitation solutions such as the Trader Support Service (TSS). This digital portal has enabled the continuation of goods movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.
Forgione is also a passionate advocate for trade as a force for good in the world, regularly commenting in the media that it is a driver of economic prosperity and that it can serve to bring communities closer together. He has led the Chartered Institute into partnerships with the World Trade Organization and International Trade Centre that have built trade capacity among MSMEs and female entrepreneurs. He also entered the organisation into the TLIP Institute – a global collaboration to develop a new digital infrastructure for trade – alongside the World Economic Forum, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, the IOTA Foundation, TradeMark Africa and the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation.
Before the Chartered Institute, Forgione led trade bodies in the arts, antiques and creative sectors, navigating the British Antiques Dealers’ Association through digital transformation between 2015 and 2020, and leading creative bodies EVCOM and the International Visual Communication Association between 2008 and 2015. He also previously had director level roles at Canterbury College and the Landscape Institute.
Mark Gordon joined the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade in January 2024, bringing extensive experience in corporate financial affairs, commercial and operational management. Mark leads the finance, projects and ICT teams and works with the Executive Committee on operational delivery.
Prior to joining the Chartered Institute, Mark worked in professional services and information technology companies in senior finance and general management roles.
Chris Martin joined the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade in January 2023, bringing two decades of experience in strategic communications, public affairs, and government relations.
As corporate affairs director he leads a multi-disciplinary team based in our Westminster office, with responsibility for strengthening the Chartered Institute’s influence, engagement and growth across diverse regions and international markets.
Prior to joining the Chartered Institute, Chris held leadership roles in global communications consultancies, including Ketchum and Hume Brophy (Penta), advising clients ranging from multinational corporations and FTSE 100 companies to trade associations and NGOs.
Jeanny Luong joined the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade in May 2024, with 2 decades of experience in various finance roles. Jeanny is responsible for leading, overseeing and advising on the financial management of the Chartered Institute’s operations and entities across the Group.
Prior to joining the Chartered Institute, Jeanny worked in a professional services and information technology company as Group Financial Controller.
An advocate for international trade for more than 40 years, Kevin Shakespeare is highly respected within the international trade community. He has facilitated cross-border trade for thousands of UK businesses and been pivotal in designing and delivering new documentation and processes pre- and post-Brexit.
He is currently leading the Chartered Institute for Export & International Trade's digitalisation work, with a focus on Single Trade Window programmes and Ecosystem of Trust.
Formerly the Chartered Institute's director of stakeholder engagement and then academy director, Shakespeare was involved in developing the diploma in world customs planning and compliance, a foundation degree in international trade and the Northern Ireland Customs and Trade Academy (NICTA).
Shakespeare has led many trade initiatives in the UK and internationally, including work with the International Trade Centres, Scottish Enterprise, UK Export Finance, Universities and Colleges across the United Kingdom and Saudi Export Development Authority.
He is a UN-approved trainer and author of a best-selling book, Trade for Good.
Kevin chairs and participates on many committees at UN agencies, and in the UK and European Union.
Christian has a background in technology consulting. He has held senior leadership roles in both sales, delivery and operations, and has a track record of growing customer revenues through the development of deep and trusting relationships with senior client stakeholders.
Christian has worked with the Chartered Institute since 2020, when he led the consortium delivering the Northern Ireland Trader Support Service.
Jeanny Luong joined the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade in May 2024, with 2 decades of experience in various finance roles. Jeanny is responsible for leading, overseeing and advising on the financial management of the Chartered Institute’s operations and entities across the Group.
Prior to joining the Chartered Institute, Jeanny worked in a professional services and information technology company as Group Financial Controller.
An advocate for international trade for more than 40 years, Kevin Shakespeare is highly respected within the international trade community. He has facilitated cross-border trade for thousands of UK businesses and been pivotal in designing and delivering new documentation and processes pre- and post-Brexit.
He is currently leading the Chartered Institute for Export & International Trade's digitalisation work, with a focus on Single Trade Window programmes and Ecosystem of Trust.
Formerly the Chartered Institute's director of stakeholder engagement and then academy director, Shakespeare was involved in developing the diploma in world customs planning and compliance, a foundation degree in international trade and the Northern Ireland Customs and Trade Academy (NICTA).
Shakespeare has led many trade initiatives in the UK and internationally, including work with the International Trade Centres, Scottish Enterprise, UK Export Finance, Universities and Colleges across the United Kingdom and Saudi Export Development Authority.
He is a UN-approved trainer and author of a best-selling book, Trade for Good.
Kevin chairs and participates on many committees at UN agencies, and in the UK and European Union.
Christian has a background in technology consulting. He has held senior leadership roles in both sales, delivery and operations, and has a track record of growing customer revenues through the development of deep and trusting relationships with senior client stakeholders.
Christian has worked with the Chartered Institute since 2020, when he led the consortium delivering the Northern Ireland Trader Support Service.
