[7] In 2014, he was announced as the new Chief Executive of Arts Council England, succeeding Alan Davey.
[10] The following year, he authored an independent review of cultural education in England for the same two government departments.
[14] His other arts related roles have included Chair of the Mayor of London's Music Education Task Force,[15] Patron of the Mayor of London's Fund for Young Musicians,[16] member of the governing body of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music,[17] trustee and Vice-President of the Canterbury Festival[18] and Commissioner on the University of Warwick's Commission on the Future of Cultural Value.
[19] Henley has written or co-written thirty books on arts related subjects,[7] including the Sunday Times bestselling Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Classical Music...But Were Too Afraid To Ask[20] and an official history of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
[24] Henley's audiobook for children The Story of Classical Music was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2005.