The British Heart Foundation is looking to ramp up its link ups with businesses through the creation of a Corporate Partnerships Board that is being led by a senior Microsoft staffer.

The board is being chaired by Clare Barclay, who is president of enterprise and industry for EMEA at Microsoft. She is also an advisor to the government having been appointed chair of its Industrial Strategy Advisory Council last year.

The charity said the creation of the board and appointment of Barclay aims to “help us unlock transformational partnerships and power more lifesaving cardiovascular research”.

It said that Barclay is “one of the UK's most respected business and technology leaders” and in the role at the charity she will “use her extensive experience and network to help open doors to senior decision-makers and create new opportunities for large-scale partnerships that can accelerate our mission”.

BHF chief executive Charmaine Griffiths said: “I'm thrilled to welcome Dame Clare Barclay as the new Chair of our BHF Corporate Partnerships Board. As a longstanding supporter of BHF, she brings exceptional leadership and expertise alongside a deep commitment to our work to save and improve more lives.

"At a time when the need has never been greater, I can think of no-one better to drive the growth of transformational partnerships that power our lifesaving work."

Barclay, who has previously worked with the charity in its work to increase access to defibrillators, added: “My involvement with BHF over many years has shown me just how powerful it can be when commercial experience, strategic insight and personal networks are brought to bear on a mission like this.

"It's a privilege to accept this rare and exciting opportunity to help shape a new approach to corporate fundraising and I look forward to bringing together a group of like-minded leaders who care deeply about using their experience, insight and networks in service of something bigger."

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