Nigel Wilson (businessman)

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Sir
Nigel Wilson
Nigel Wilson, businessman (cropped).jpg
Born1956
Norwich, England
Education
OccupationBusinessman
Years active1977–present
Children5

Sir Nigel David Wilson (born 1956) is a British businessman. He was the group chief executive of Legal & General from 2012 to 2023. [1] In 2024, he joined the Canary Wharf Group. [2]

Contents

Early life

Wilson was born in Norwich and grew up in Darlington. He attended Ferryhill Grammar School. [3] He went on to earn a degree in economics from the University of Essex [4] and a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. [4]

Career

Wilson was the chief executive of Legal & General Group from 30 June 2012 to 31 December 2023, having joined as group chief financial officer on 1 September 2009. [5] He was knighted in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to the finance industry and regional development. [6]

In September 2022, Wilson turned down the position of Minister for Investment in the British government. [7]

Media commentating

While he was chief executive of Legal & General, Wilson was often quoted in the media on a range of subjects, usually commenting about government policies which he perceived to be anti-business. His outspoken views led The Sunday Times to describe him as ‘Marmite’. [8] Controversial opinions expressed by Wilson included several attempts to encourage the government to allow developers to build housing on Green Belt land. [9] [10]

He was also an outspoken critic of government environmental policy, commenting in relation to wind farms, "The government is deluding itself that it is saving the world with these ugly modern windmills." [11] Wilson also claimed that Legal & General, one of the UK’s largest investors, "would not put a single penny into wind farms" (although several years later Legal & General in fact did invest circa £700m in large windfarm developments at Walney and Hornsea). [12]

Wilson has made a number of outspoken political interventions, being described as ‘one of the highest profile supporters of Brexit in the Square Mile’. [13] [14] He also spoke in favour of Liz Truss’ controversial plans for widespread tax-cuts, [15] plans which later played a major part in Truss' ill-fated mini-budget.

Personal life

Wilson has five daughters. [16] He has won several national masters athletics championships. [16]

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References

  1. ↑ "Legal & General Names Antonio Simoes as Chief Executive Officer". Bloomberg. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  2. ↑ Sidders, Jack (19 June 2024). "Nigel Wilson Replaces Iacobescu as Canary Wharf Group Chairman". Bloomberg. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  3. ↑ "Graduation 2024: Sir Nigel Wilson honoured by the University of Sunderland". University of Sunderland. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  4. 1 2 Shah, Oliver (3 July 2016). "There is so much money around — we need to spend it on our cities". The Sunday Times. ISSN   0956-1382 . Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  5. ↑ "Nigel D. Wilson: Executive Profile". BusinessWeek. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  6. ↑ "No. 63571". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 2022. p. N2.
  7. ↑ Swinford, Richard Fletcher Steven. "City veteran Wilson snubs Truss offer of ministerial job". The Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  8. ↑ Dunkley, Emma (13 October 2019). "Nigel Wilson, L&G's marmite man, proves an acquired taste. The insurer's chief executive divides the city with his direct style". The Sunday Times.
  9. ↑ Ahmed, Kamal (1 February 2017). "Housebuilder L&G wants 'reassessment' of green belt". BBC News website.
  10. ↑ "Oxford University plans 2,000 new homes in and around city". BBC News website. 27 June 2019.
  11. ↑ Salmon, James (10 August 2013). "Plans to build more wind farms are 'deluded', L&G boss warns the government". Scotland Against Spin.
  12. ↑ "Legal & General completes financing on what is soon to be the largest windfarm in the world". Legal & General press release. 27 November 2018.
  13. ↑ Foy, Simon (9 August 2022). "Liz Truss's tax cuts could trigger a wave of investment in the UK, says L&G chief". The Daily Telegraph.
  14. ↑ Samuel, Juliet (6 August 2014). "L&G Chief Says UK Should Quit EU Without Better Deal". The Wall Street Journal.
  15. ↑ Foy, Simon (9 August 2022). "Liz Truss's tax cuts could trigger a wave of investment in the UK, says L&G chief". The Daily Telegraph.
  16. 1 2 English, Simon (30 January 2023). "L&G begins search for new leader as Sir Nigel Wilson moves to stand down". Evening Standard. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
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