Year: 2025
Pages: 1

The Group of Thirty (G30), on behalf of its leadership and members, is saddened to report the passing of Founder and Emeritus Member Geoffrey Bell on January 1, 2025. Geoffrey was the founder and driving force behind the creation of the Group of Thirty in 1978 and remained an anchor of the G30 for the next more than 40 years. The Group was created to address the need for an independent deliberative forum on matters of international economic and financial risk. Geoffrey served as a Trustee and Secretary of the G30 until 2015 and was actively engaged in all aspects of the Group’s work program, events, and governance.
 
Geoffrey will be greatly missed by the G30, he was a mentor to many current and past members and a friend to all. He shared important views and experience on a very wide-ranging circle across central banking, investment banking, and the insurance sector. Geoffrey was a constant presence at meetings and G30 events, ensuring the organization, and its mission, was safeguarded.
 
Born in Grimsby in 1939, Geoffrey came from a Northern working-class family. A smart and driven young man, he would go on to study economics and later teach at the London School of Economics. Following his graduation, he took a position at H.M. Treasury.
 
Between 1966 and 1969, he served as economic advisor to the British Embassy in Washington, then joined the Schroders Bank, as assistant to the Chairman, Gordon Richardson, later Bank of England Governor. Geoffrey was Chairman of the bank Guinness Mahon Holdings between 1987 and 1993.
 
In 1982 he formed his own consulting company, Geoffrey Bell and Company, which advised central banks, governments and corporations on financial management issues.
 
All in the Group send our deepest sympathy and condolences to his wife of over 50 years, Joan, and their daughter Allison at this most difficult of times. Rest in peace.
 
A private funeral will be held.