George Simpson, Baron Simpson of Dunkeld
George Simpson, Baron Simpson of Dunkeld ( born July 2, 1942 in Dundee) is a British politician ( Labour Party ) and businessman.
Life and career
Education and career beginnings
Simpson was born the son of a factory manager and grew up in Perthshire. He studied accounting at Dundee Technical College and completed this in 1963.
From 1964 to 1968 he was an accountant (Senior Accountant ) at Scottish Gas. From 1969 to 1977 he held a leading position in finance at British Leyland. From 1978 to 1979 he was Finance Director of the Leyland Truck & Bus Ltd. He of Managing Director of Coventry Climax 1980-1982 and Freight Rover from 1983 until 1985. Between 1986 and 1987, he held this office at Rover Group Commercial Vehicles.
Management positions at Rover and Marconi
Simpson joined in 1988 the subsidiary Leyland DAF Rover Group and took over the position in January 1989 as Managing Director. Simpson reorganized the company; he replaced the three supervisory boards ( boards ) of Austin Rover, Land Rover and Rover Group with a single body. At this time Rover was privatized and sold to British Aerospace ( Bae ). In the early 1990s, Simpson had become a member of Bae Council. In September 1991 he was also Chairman ( Chairman ) of Rover, than its predecessor, Sir Graham Day Interim Chairman of British Aerospace was. Day promoted Simpson in December 1991 as Deputy Chief Executive of British Aerospace to " toughen " the company's management. He was Executive Chairman of Rover, but was replaced as Managing Director.
Simpson acquired in the late 1980s and in the early 1990s, a reputation as a restructuring of troubled companies. As CEO of the company Marconi however, he was later also involved in one of the biggest corporate collapses in the UK.
Simpson from 1989 to 1994 Member of the Supervisory Board (Supervisory Board) of DAF NV ( DAF Trucks NV). From 1992 to 1994 he was Chairman ( Chairman ) and Deputy Chief Executive of the British Aerospace. In November 1993, he was announced as the CEO of Lucas Industries. At that time, Simpson enjoyed for its role in overcoming the Rover crisis high reputation. Before he took up his post at Lucas Industries, he was involved in the sale of Rover to BMW. He took part in the negotiations, which stipulated 20% to increase the share of Honda Rover to 47.5 %, with the goal of an IPO. However, BMW offered £ 800 million to the Rover Group, which would free British Aerospace of Rovers ' big appetite for money " from the daily debt of £ 200 million and £ 700 million of additional commitments. Simpson traveled to Japan to ask if Honda can match the offer, which rejected them. From 1994 to 1996 he was Chief Executive of Lucas Industries.
On March 18, 1996 Simpson was confirmed as the Managing Director of GEC as a replacement for Arnold Weinstock, Baron Weinstock. The newspaper The Independent reported that " some analysts believe that Mr Simpson's inside knowledge was important. The effects of the collapse ranged far into the post- Simpsons resignation. Despite a fundamental restructuring of the problems to 2005 continue, as an important contract with BT Group did not materialize, forcing the company to seek a buyer. Marconi was bought by Ericsson in 2005. Parts, which were not acquired by Ericsson, were telent plc. When Marconi plc (formerly General Electric Company), he initially from 1996 to 1999 as Managing Director and from 1999 to 2001 served as the Chief Executive. From 1992 to 1999 he was a non-executive director of Pilkington and from 1995 to 2001 ICI plc. Since 1998 he has been Non-Executive Director of Alstom SA and since 1999 by Nestlé SA. Since 2001, he holds this office at the northwest Venture Capital Fund Ltd. Bank of Scotland.
Other offices
From 1991 to 1993 he was a member of the Government Advisory Committee on Business and Environment. From 1993 to 1995, Simpson President of the West Midlands Development Agency. From 1995 to 1996 he was president of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders ( SMMT ), where he was previously Vice President ( Vice - President). From 1995 to 1997 he was a member of the Commission on Public Policy and a member of the British Business Institute of Public Policy Research.
He is also a member of the Senate of the Energy Council and Director ( Governor ) of the London Business School. Simpson is currently Head ( Governor ) of the Economic Forum and a member of the European Round Table. He is an independent Director ( Independent Director ) of the Triumph Group Inc. He is also a member of the Trusteeship Council of the University of Abertay and the SMMT Charitable Fund.
Since 1991 he has been Visiting Professor (Industry Professor ) at the University of Warwick.
Membership in the House of Lords
Simpson was appointed as Baron Simpson of Dunkeld, Dunkeld, Perth and Kinross of the Life Peer on 5 November 1997. His official introduction to the House of Lords took place with the support of Arnold Weinstock, Baron Weinstock and Simon Haskel, Baron Haskel on 17 November 1997.
His maiden speech in the House of Lords he held on 1 April 1998. When his political interests he gives trade and industry.
From 2004 to 2010, and since 2011 he has been on leave of absence granted by the House of Lords Leave of Absence. On 16 February 2011 he took the first time since 2000 in part in a vote.
Simpson was rarely present from the beginning of his membership.
Honors
Simpson is a Fellow of the Association of Certified Accountants, an associate of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators, a Fellow of the Institute of Motor Industry, the Chartered Institute of Transport and in the Royal Society of Arts.