About the IAPP

Matt leads Google’s business and operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa - helping people, communities, companies and countries make the most of technology and harnessing it for good. He also works on shaping responsible products and policies within Google as regulation develops, including working closely with policymakers on codes of practice and the launch of Google’s Safety Engineering Centres in EMEA.

Joining Google in 2007 he led Google UK for five years, then a group of European Countries before taking his current role as President of EMEA in 2014. Matt was a driving force behind Grow with Google, a global initiative that’s trained 20 million people across the region in the skills needed for the jobs of the future. He has a longstanding interest in sustainability and has been a key figure in Google’s journey from carbon neutrality in 2007 to carbon free by 2030.

Prior to Google, Matt spent time in media, marketing and strategy, including at the UK’s biggest news publisher and management consultancy McKinsey. He has held trustee positions of The Media Trust and The Climate Group, and was a non-executive Director at retailer Sainsbury’s for nine years. He has an MBA from London Business School, an MA from Cambridge and won silver for Cambridge in several Boat Races. He was a member of the British Rowing team, winning medals in eights and fours at World Championships and representing Great Britain at the Olympics. He is a Steward of Henley Royal Regatta, a part-time rowing commentator and coach and still competes regularly, though more slowly. Matt lives in London, near the Thames, with his wife, student sons and small but remarkably noisy dog.