Michael Lyons was educated at Stratford Grammar School, London,
Middlesex University, and
Queen Mary & Westfield College,
University of London. Whilst completing his formal education, he worked for two years as a part-time street trader at Bell St Market, London. Lyons then worked as a lecturer in economics at Wallbrook College, London, and the
University of Nottingham. Lyons worked in the public sector as an economist, and between 1980 and 1983 served as an elected
Labour councillor on
Birmingham City Council. He then became Chief Executive of three significant local authorities:
Wolverhampton Borough Council (1985–90);
Nottinghamshire County Council (1990–94); and finally
Birmingham City Council (1994–2001). In 2004 he was the chaired two successful government projects: the
Review of Public Sector Relocation on behalf of the
Chancellor and
prime minister, and the
Corporate Governance Commission on behalf of
Cardiff City Council. He was Deputy Chairman of the
Audit Commission for two years until October 2006, including a period as acting chairman. In March 2007, he published the final report and recommendations from his three-year independent inquiry into the future role, function and funding of
local government. He also holds an honorary doctorate from
Middlesex University. Lyons served as a governor of the
Royal Shakespeare Company as well as a non-executive director on the boards of
Mouchel, Wragge & Co Solicitors and SQW Group Ltd. A former chairman of the
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and former member of the boards of City Pride, Birmingham Marketing Partnership and Millennium Point Property Trust Company, he was also previously a director of
Central Independent Television, until 1993. In 2022 he chaired the Independent Review of Invest Northern Ireland. ==BBC chairman==