General Manager - Allan Grayson-Jones
Allan Grayson-Jones was educated at Cathays High School, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom where he gained “A” Level passes in Music and Economics. Allan joined Midland Bank Executor and Trustee Company Limited (now Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation) in 1960 passing the Associated Institute of Bankers Trustee Diploma in 1967 and progressing to Accountant until seconded to Geneva in 1978. As part of an investment team investigating the possible re-financing of a syndicate of Holiday Inns based in the Caribbean and also negotiating commercial loans proposed by the governments of Rwanda and Cameroon for commercial aircraft he was in Geneva for 3 years where his team successfully concluded the required financial arrangements
In 1981 Allan left banking and joined a successful technology provider in South Wales as Sales Director until 1987 when he was recruited as Business Development Manager of a progressive management consultancy which subsequently became part of the Deloitte organisation. In the early 1990’s the telecommunications market was evolving and an investment opportunity enabled him to become a director of a leading distributor of Alcatel Telecom in Wales and West of England. Allan subsequently disposed of the business to one of the largest distributors for Alcatel –Lucent in the UK and he continued to run the Welsh Division until his retirement in 2009. Is now a consultant and is advising on business development for a small telecommunications and data organisation in South Wales.
Outside of his commercial life Allan has been on the Advisory Panel of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales (the first youth orchestra in the world) for the last 7 years, himself being a musician and a former member of the orchestra, and successfully negotiated a grant of 50% from the Welsh Government to enable the orchestra to attend the European Festival of Music in Berlin which was attended by Edwina Hart, Minister for BETS in the Welsh Government. He is also a Board Member of Making Music, the national support body for UK voluntary music; Chair of Music In the Vale, Young Musician of the Year competition; and plays French horn for several leading orchestras in Cardiff, and a brass quintet.
In 2012 Allan was made a partner of Campus Associates which specialises in education programmes and also concert & event promotions, and which is currently working with the Welsh Government on Welsh music events at proposed trade missions to Malaysia and Hong Kong over the coming twelve months.
Allan was appointed to the management board of Camerata Wales in January 2014 and is responsible for the day to day management of the organisation, with additional responsibility for generating close working relationships with the leading professional and commercial organisations in Wales, to assist in the future development of this professional orchestra under its Artistic Director Owain Arwel Hughes CBE
In 1981 Allan left banking and joined a successful technology provider in South Wales as Sales Director until 1987 when he was recruited as Business Development Manager of a progressive management consultancy which subsequently became part of the Deloitte organisation. In the early 1990’s the telecommunications market was evolving and an investment opportunity enabled him to become a director of a leading distributor of Alcatel Telecom in Wales and West of England. Allan subsequently disposed of the business to one of the largest distributors for Alcatel –Lucent in the UK and he continued to run the Welsh Division until his retirement in 2009. Is now a consultant and is advising on business development for a small telecommunications and data organisation in South Wales.
Outside of his commercial life Allan has been on the Advisory Panel of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales (the first youth orchestra in the world) for the last 7 years, himself being a musician and a former member of the orchestra, and successfully negotiated a grant of 50% from the Welsh Government to enable the orchestra to attend the European Festival of Music in Berlin which was attended by Edwina Hart, Minister for BETS in the Welsh Government. He is also a Board Member of Making Music, the national support body for UK voluntary music; Chair of Music In the Vale, Young Musician of the Year competition; and plays French horn for several leading orchestras in Cardiff, and a brass quintet.
In 2012 Allan was made a partner of Campus Associates which specialises in education programmes and also concert & event promotions, and which is currently working with the Welsh Government on Welsh music events at proposed trade missions to Malaysia and Hong Kong over the coming twelve months.
Allan was appointed to the management board of Camerata Wales in January 2014 and is responsible for the day to day management of the organisation, with additional responsibility for generating close working relationships with the leading professional and commercial organisations in Wales, to assist in the future development of this professional orchestra under its Artistic Director Owain Arwel Hughes CBE