Robert William Ashburnham Swannell CBE (born 18 November 1950) is a British businessman, public servant and former investment banker. He was the chairman of Marks & Spencer from 2011 to 2017, and chairman of the Shareholder Executive and its successor UK Government Investments from 2014 to 2021.
Robert Swannell | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robert William Ashburnham Swannell 18 November 1950 Nanyuki, Kenya |
| Nationality | British |
| Title | Former chairman, Marks & Spencer |
| Term | 2011–2017 |
| Successor | Archie Norman |
| Board member of | Marks & Spencer |
| Children | 2 |
Personal life
editSwannell was born on 18 November 1950 in Nanyuki, Kenya.[1] He attended Rugby School in Warwickshire where he was chairman of the governing board.[1][2] Swannell is married and has two children.[1]
Career
editSwannell qualified as a chartered accountant and was later called to the bar.[3]
Swannell worked in investment banking for 33 years with Schroders and Citigroup.[4] During this time he was senior non-executive director at British Land and 3i Group, and chairman of HMV Group from February 2009 to March 2011.[3]
He was the chairman of Marks & Spencer from January 2011[5][4] until September 2017, when he was succeeded by Archie Norman.[6]
At the Shareholder Executive, which oversees the UK government's financial interests in a range of state-owned enterprises, he was appointed as a non-executive director in late 2013 and as chair in September 2014. The body was merged into UK Government Investments in 2016, and he continued as chair of UKGI until 2021.[3] During this time the Post Office scandal surrounding wrongful prosecutions was unfolding, and in 2014 Swannell told the public inquiry that the Post Office became UKGI's top priority in 2019, after a defeat in the High Court.[7]
Honours
editIn the 2018 New Year Honours he was appointed Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for services to the public, retail and financial sectors.[8][9]
References
edit- ^ a b c Hill, Andrew (28 October 2012). "Calm in the eye of a public storm". Financial Times. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ "Robert Swannell: discretion assured in dealings with the human banker". The Daily Telegraph. 20 August 2010.
- ^ a b c "Robert Swannell". GOV.UK. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Robert Swannell". Corporate.marksandspencer.com. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- ^ Richardson, Andy (24 August 2010). "Marks and Spencer defender to become the company's new boss". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ Zoe Wood. "M&S appoints Archie Norman as new chairman | Business". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- ^ Croft, Jane (9 July 2024). "Post Office Horizon inquiry told of 'incomplete curiosity' and 'toxic culture'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "Robert SWANNELL | Order of the British Empire". London Gazette. 30 December 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ Alan Tovey (29 December 2017). "Retail's 'power couple' recognised for achievements in New Year's Honours". The Telegraph. Retrieved 30 December 2017.