[1] In April 2020, during Phase 1 of the COVID-19 pandemic, he accepted the role of Chief Executive of the government's Shielding Programme on a voluntary basis for 4 months before joining KPMG.
He led the highly successful launch and marketing of the Oyster card and also played a key role in securing the £10 billion investment from Government for the upgrade of the TFL Underground, Rail, and Bus Networks.
During the last five years, Townsend signed leading brands including Lloyds Bank, British Airways, BT and EDF Energy.
[10] In 2012 Townsend became commercial director of the London Resort project, a Paramount Pictures theme park in Kent which was planned to open by 2018.
[13] He managed a Government investment of £150 million to support UK cities to develop the digital infrastructure capability to remain internationally competitive and attractive for investors, business and visitors.
As Board Director at DCMS, he sat on the Finance Committee, overseeing the approval of Government investment in major projects across the 44 Arm’s Length Bodies.
[16] The news was confirmed by Secretary of State for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Karen Bradley who praised Townsend for growing the UK's broadband coverage to over 93% in the three years he was CEO of BDUK.
[20] This was a voluntary unpaid role at the request of the Cabinet Office via John Manzoni, CEO of the Civil Service, during which Townsend stepped back from his post at Chelsea Football Club.
[21] He was responsible for the planning, implementation and daily management of the national and local Shielding Programme supporting CEV patients for 4 months with Free Food Box Deliveries, Medicine and Social Care.
Townsend was awarded a CBE in recognition of his services to the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable in her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in June 2021.
Townsend was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to Clinically Vulnerable People during the COVID-19 response.
Townsend is a keen conservationist and a Member of the Tusk Trust Development Board, of which Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, is the patron.