<sod >In her response to the speech, Carolyn Fairbairn,Â the CBI Director-General,Â said the âcore challengeâ of determining the UKâs trade relationship with the rest of the EU still loomedÂ and stressed that âthe clock [is] now tickingâ.< eod>< sod > In her response to the speech, Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, said the âcore challengeâÂ of determining the UKâs trade relationship with the rest of the EU still loomed and stressed that âthe clock [is] now tickingâ.< eod>