John Parker (businessman)

Last updated

Sir John Parker
GBE FREng
John Parker natgrid 180 (cropped).png
Parker in 2011
Born (1942-04-08) 8 April 1942 (age 82)
County Down, Northern Ireland
NationalityBritish

Sir Thomas John Parker (born 8 April 1942) is a British businessman. He is chairman of Laing O'Rourke and former chairman of Pennon Group, a director of Carnival Corporation & plc and lead non-executive director at the Cabinet Office. [1] He has been a director or chairman of numerous other public companies including Airbus, Anglo American plc, Babcock International, British Gas, DP World, Lattice Group, National Grid plc and Ombu Group. He is a past president of the Royal Academy of Engineering, [2] patron at the Centre for Process Innovation and a Visiting Fellow of the University of Oxford.

Contents

Early life

Parker was born into a farming family in County Down, Northern Ireland. He attended Belfast College of Technology (since 1991 called Belfast Metropolitan College). In 1958, at age 17, he joined Harland and Wolff as an apprentice naval architect (engineer). At Queen's University Belfast he was awarded an Honorary DSc degree in Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture.

Career

The Parker Review

Between 2016 and 2022, Parker was Chair of the eponymous Parker Review, an independent review which considers how to improve the ethnic and cultural diversity of UK boards to better reflect their employee base and the communities they serve. [12] The first review, published in 2017, set out seven recommendations, including a "One by '21" target. Its aim was that all FTSE 100 boards should have at least one director from an ethnic minority background by December 2021. [13] This was a relative success, with 89 FTSE 100 companies and 128 FTSE 250 companies having ethnic minority representation on their boards as of 31 December 2021. [14]

Recognition

He was knighted for services to defence and shipbuilding in 2001. [15] [16] [17] He was the Chancellor of the University of Southampton [16] from 2006 to 2011, [18] as well as being a governor of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. [16] Other appointments have included membership of the Prime Minister's Business Council for Britain [19] and non-executive director at the Bank of England. [20] He was President of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects from 1996 to 1999. In 2012, he was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE), for services to Industry and to the voluntary sector. [21] [22] He was conferred with Honorary Fellowship of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland (HonFIES) in 2012. [23] He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng) in 1983. [2] He was elected as an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (HonFIET) in 2014. [24]

Personal life

Parker married Emma, a former Latin teacher and pianist, in 1967; they have two children.[ citation needed ] Parker is a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harland & Wolff</span> Shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Harland & Wolff is a British shipbuilding and fabrication company headquartered in London with sites in Belfast, Arnish, Appledore and Methil. It specialises in ship repair, shipbuilding and offshore construction. Harland & Wolff is famous for having built the majority of the ocean liners for the White Star Line, including Olympic-class trio – RMS Olympic, RMS Titanic and HMHS Britannic. Outside of White Star Line, other ships that have been built include the Royal Navy's HMS Belfast; Royal Mail Line's Andes; Shaw, Savill & Albion's Southern Cross; Union-Castle's RMS Pendennis Castle; P&O's Canberra; and Hamburg-America's SS Amerika of 1905. Harland and Wolff's official history, Shipbuilders to the World, was published in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Gregson (engineer)</span> British research engineer and academic (1957–2024)

Sir Peter John Gregson, FREng was a British research engineer and chair of the Henry Royce Institute. He was previously the vice-chancellor of Cranfield University from 2013 to 2021 and president and vice-chancellor of Queen's University Belfast from 2004. Prior to that he was deputy vice-chancellor at the University of Southampton from 2000 to 2004.

Sir Geoffrey John Mulcahy is a British businessman who led Kingfisher plc, the FTSE 100 Index company.

Michael John Turner CBE is the former chief executive officer (CEO) of the aerospace and defence company BAE Systems, former chairman of Babcock International and prior to the hostile takeover by Melrose was chairman of GKN plc.

Sir John Alexander Raymond Chisholm is a British engineer who was chairman of the Medical Research Council and QinetiQ.

Sir John Edward Victor Rose is a British businessman who was the Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce from 1996 to 2011, when he became deputy chairman of Rothschild Group.

Sir Arvi Hillar Parbo was a business executive who was concurrently chairman of three of Australia's largest companies, Alcoa World Alumina & Chemicals, Munich Re, and Zurich Australian Insurance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Moody-Stuart</span> British businessman

Sir Mark Moody-Stuart KCMG is a British businessman, He was appointed non-executive chairman of Anglo American PLC in 2001, serving until 2009. He has been chairman of Hermes Equity Ownership Services since 2009.

Sir Julian Michael Horn-Smith is a British businessman who is a member of the boards of a number of international corporations and an advisor to others. He was deputy chief executive of Vodafone until July 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cynthia Carroll</span> British businesswoman

Cynthia Blum Carroll is an American businesswoman. She was the chief executive officer of Anglo American PLC, a British mining company, which, among other things, is the world's largest platinum producer.

Sir Peter Leahy Bonfield is a business executive who has led a number of companies in the fields of electronics, computers and communications. Currently a director of several companies in the USA, Europe and the Far East, he was formerly chief executive of ICL and more recently of BT Group. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the British Computer Society, the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the Marketing Society and the Royal Society of Arts. He is a Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, Freeman of the City of London, Honorary Citizen of Dallas, Texas and Member of the Pilgrims of Great Britain.

Vice Admiral Sir Robert Walmsley, was a senior officer of the Royal Navy who served as Chief of Defence Procurement at the UK Ministry of Defence from 1996 to 2003.

Sir John Michael Sunderland, CBE FRSA is a British businessman, who was President of the Confederation of British Industry from 2004 to 2006, where his priority was restoring confidence in business after a series of corporate scandals. He is the current Chancellor of Aston University.

Steven John Holliday FREng, born 26 October 1956, is a British businessman and engineer. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) of National Grid plc from 2007 to 2016.

Sir Peter Oliver Gershon, is a British businessman and former civil servant, former chairman of Tate & Lyle, and since January 2012, Chairman of the FTSE 20 company National Grid. He is chiefly known for conducting the Gershon Review in 2004/2005 which recommended savings across the UK's public services and for being an adviser to the Conservative Party during the run up to the 2010 General Election. He has also been Chair of the Office of Government Commerce as well as sitting on the boards of several well known companies and organisations.

Sir David Evan Naunton Davies is a British electrical engineer and educator, knighted for services to science and technology in the 1994 New Year Honours.

Kenneth John Hydon FCMA, FCCA, FCT is a British accountant who has been a director of several FTSE 100 companies: RB, Merlin Entertainments Group, Tesco, Pearson, Vodafone and also the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, an acute general hospital in the UK.

Colin P. Smith was director of engineering and technology at Rolls-Royce plc.

Paul Ashton Walker is a British businessman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Read</span> British businessman (born 1950)

Sir Martin Peter Read, is a British businessman who has been Chairman of the Senior Salaries Review Body since January 2015, and Chairman of Wincanton plc since 2018.

References

  1. ↑ "Government job for Laing O'Rourke chairman" . Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  2. 1 2 "List of Fellows". Archived from the original on 8 June 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "From Harland and Wolff apprentice to Anglo American director: Sir John Parker's recipe for success" – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Vice President – Sir John Parker". The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity. 6 January 2016. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ↑ "P&O Princess Cruises plc". Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Biography: Sir John Parker". Carnival Corporation. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017 – via Internet Archive.
  7. 1 2 Pagano, Margareta (17 January 2010). "Sir John Parker: 'A man you want on your side, and not one to cross'" . Independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  8. ↑ "University of Southampton". Southampton.ac.uk. 13 July 2006. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  9. ↑ DP World Archived 22 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ "Airbus Group". Airbus Group. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  11. ↑ "Ombu Group". Ombu Group. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  12. ↑ "Ethnic diversity of UK boards: the Parker review". GOV.UK. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  13. ↑ "The Parker Review - Encouraging greater diversity of UK boards". The Parker Review. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  14. ↑ "Nearly all FTSE 100 companies have met the Parker Review's 'One before 2021' target to improve ethnic diversity of FTSE 100 boards". www.ey.com. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  15. ↑ "THE LONDON GAZETTE SATURDAY 30 DECEMBER 2000 SUPPLEMENT No. 1". London Gazette .
  16. 1 2 3 "Profile: Sir John Parker, National Grid chairman". London: The Daily Telegraph. 20 February 2008. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
  17. ↑ Stiff, Peter (25 August 2008). "Business big shot: Sir John Parker, Chairman of National Grid". The Times . London. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
  18. ↑ "CBI president to be next Chancellor of the University of Southampton". University of Southampton. 12 April 2011. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  19. ↑ "Business Council for Britain". UK Government. Archived from the original on 9 January 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
  20. ↑ "Bank of England – The Court of Directors". Bank of England. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
  21. ↑ THE LONDON GAZETTE SATURDAY 16 JUNE 2012 SUPPLEMENT No. 1 Archived 25 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ↑ "The Queen's Birthday Honours List 2012" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  23. ↑ "Honorary Fellows". IES. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  24. ↑ "Honorary Fellows". The Institution of Engineering and Technology. Retrieved 31 January 2015.

Further reading

Board Profiles:

Articles:

Professional and academic associations
Preceded by President of the Royal Academy of Engineering
September 2011– August 2014		Succeeded by
Academic offices
Preceded by Chancellor of the University of Southampton
2006–2011		Succeeded by
Business positions
Preceded by Chairman of Anglo American plc
2009–		Succeeded by
Incumbent (to 31 October 2017)
Preceded by Chairman of P&O
2005–2006		Succeeded by
Incumbent vice president, DP World
following take over
Preceded by
James Hood Ross OBE
prior to merger with Lattice Group
Chairman of National Grid plc
2002–2011		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman of Babcock International
1994–2000		Succeeded by
Gordon Arden Campbell CBE, FREng
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.