Ian Cheshire (businessman)

Sir Ian Cheshire
Cheshire in 2013
Born	Ian Michael Cheshire (1959-08-06) 6 August 1959 (age 66) Miri, Malaysia
Education	The King's School, Canterbury
Alma mater	Christ's College, Cambridge
Occupation	Businessman
Years active	1970–present
Title	Chairman of Channel 4 Chairman of Barclays UK Chairman, Maisons du Monde, Chairman, Menhaden plc Lead non-executive director of Cabinet Office board, Trustee at the Institute for Government
Spouse	Kate Cheshire
Children	3

Sir Ian Michael Cheshire (born 6 August 1959) is a British businessman, and is chair of Land Securities Group PLC. Cheshire joined the board as a non-executive director in March 2023, and became chair in May 2023. ^[1]

Education

Cheshire was educated at The King's School, Canterbury, and graduated in economics and law from Christ's College, Cambridge, in 1980. ^[2]

Career

Cheshire ran E Kingfisher, the e-commerce division which acquired Screwfix. After that he was CEO international before becoming CEO of B&Q in 2005. ^[3]

In 2012, Cheshire won The Guardian Sustainable Business Leader of the Year award." ^[4]

He was knighted in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to business, sustainability, and the environment. ^[5]

In September 2014, it was announced that Véronique Laury would replace Cheshire as CEO of Kingfisher from February 2015. ^{[6] [7]}

In January 2016, he was hired as chairman-elect of Debenhams. ^[8] On 7 April 2016, he succeeded Nigel Northridge. ^[9] He was voted off the board on 10 January 2019. ^[10]

In July 2025, Cheshire was named as a commissioner on the Government's Pensions Commission. ^[11]

References

1. "Sir Ian Cheshire". Landsec. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
2. "Cheshire, Sir Ian (Michael), (born 6 Aug. 1959), Chief Executive, Kingfisher plc, 2008–15." WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO
3. Wallop, Harry (15 October 2011). "Kingfisher chief Ian Cheshire has built the DIY chain back up again". The Telegraph. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
4. "Ian Cheshire: sustainable business leader of the year". The Guardian. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
5. "No. 60728". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2013. p. 1.
6. Farrell, Sean (10 September 2014). "Kingfisher names French DIY boss Véronique Laury as new chief executive". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
7. Felsted, Andrea (10 September 2014). "Véronique Laury unexpected choice for Kingfisher crown". Financial Times. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
8. Armstrong, Ashley (14 January 2016). "Debenhams hires Sir Ian Cheshire as its new chairman". The Telegraph. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
9. Armstrong, Ashley (14 January 2016). "Debenhams hires Sir Ian Cheshire as its new chairman - Telegraph". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
10. "Ashley votes Debenhams bosses off board". BBC News. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
11. "Meet the new Pensions Commission". Pensions Expert. Retrieved 19 November 2025.

Media offices
Preceded by Charles Gurassa	Chairman of Channel 4 11 April 2022 – 10 April 2025	Succeeded by Incumbent