Hywel Ball

Hywel Ball is a seasoned board leader and former UK Chair and UK & Ireland Managing Partner of Ernst & Young (EY), where he led a £4bn business of 20,000 people. Over a four-decade career, he has built a reputation for driving market-leading growth (13% CAGR), elevating audit market share across the FTSE 100, and leading cultural change across performance, quality, and inclusion. As CEO, he shaped EY’s UK societal impact strategy, led major technology acquisitions, and contributed to the design of a potential $100bn global business separation. He has advised FTSE 30 boards, worked extensively with regulators, and held executive roles across the UK, US, and Middle East in sectors including financial services, energy, and FMCG. Hywel now joins the Quantum Rise Board of Directors, bringing deep expertise in governance, regulation, and strategic transformation, alongside a collaborative, values-driven leadership style. He holds an ACA from ICAEW and a BSc in Engineering from Imperial College London. Outside of work, Hywel is married with three sons and is passionate about sport—especially cricket, rugby, golf, and skiing—as well as diving and wine collecting.