London Business School (LBS) today announced a £25 million gift from the David and Molly Pyott Foundation and David and Molly Pyott, one of the largest philanthropic contributions in the School's history. The gift will name the iconic North Building at Sussex Place as the David and Molly Pyott Building and establish a major scholarship programme to attract talented MBA students over the next decade.
Gift boosts Forever Forward campaign
This donation takes LBS's record-breaking Forever Forward fundraising campaign to over £170 million raised towards its £200 million goal. David Pyott, a graduate of the MSc13 (1980) class and the first alumnus to serve as Chair of the School's Governing Body, along with his wife Molly, have demonstrated a longstanding commitment to LBS.
Commenting on their gift, David and Molly Pyott said: "London Business School has long held a special place for us. We have seen firsthand how LBS shapes careers and transforms lives, exactly as it did for David. We believe deeply that our gift will help LBS to unlock opportunities and achieve its full potential."
Building expansion and scholarship impact
The David and Molly Pyott Building will extend the footprint of LBS's top-ranked Executive Education programmes, strengthening the School's excellence in developing global business leaders throughout their careers. The scholarship programme will enable LBS to attract outstanding MBA candidates globally over the next ten years.
Dr David E.I. Pyott, CBE, CStJ, had a distinguished international business career. As Chief Executive Officer of Allergan from 1998 to 2015, he led the global pharmaceutical company through significant growth and innovation. He received the Director of the Year Award from the National Association of Corporate Directors in 2011. He serves on the boards of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Tarsus Pharmaceuticals and is a trustee and member of the Executive Committee of the California Institute of Technology.
Dean expresses gratitude
Sergei Guriev, Dean of London Business School, said: "We are proud, humbled, and grateful to David and Molly for this transformational gift that is a powerful demonstration of a deep lifelong connection to London Business School and a strong vote of confidence in the School's future. Generations of LBS students will be inspired by David and Molly's remarkable personal journey and their lasting impact on business education, business, and society worldwide."
About London Business School
London Business School's purpose is to have a profound impact on the way the world does business and the way business impacts the world. It is consistently ranked among the world's top business schools and is widely acknowledged as a centre for outstanding research and thought leadership. In addition to its highly ranked degree programmes, the School offers award-winning Executive Education for business leaders globally, frequently placing at the top of global rankings for open and custom executive learning.
Alongside its main campus in London, LBS has a long-standing campus in Dubai and, in late 2025, officially opened an Executive Education office in Riyadh's historic Diriyah district, marking a deepened commitment to developing leadership and human capability in the Kingdom. This new presence reflects LBS's expanding footprint in the Middle East and its partnerships with leading organisations across the region.
