Ronald Edwards

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Person.png Ronald EdwardsRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
(businessman, academic)
Ronald Edwards.png
Born1 May 1910
Died18 January 1976 (Age 65)
London, UK
NationalityBritish
Alma materUniversity of London
UK business executive and academic.

Sir Ronald Edwards KBE was a UK business executive and academic. He attended the 1970 Bilderberg meeting.

Background

Edwards was born on 1 May 1910, and educated at Southgate County School, in London. He began work at the age of 15 as an audit clerk in the gas industry, earning £1 a week. The foundations of his subsequent achievements were built a few years later, when he began studying bookkeeping at evening classes, joined a firm of chartered accountants, and embarked on a correspondence course. The course led ultimately to a first class honours degree in commerce at the University of London.[1]

Career

Edwards was Assistant Lecturer, then Lecturer, in Business Administration with special reference to Accounting at the London School of Economics (LSE), 1935-1940. During World War Two, he worked in the Ministry of Aircraft Production.[2]

In 1946 he returned to LSE as a Reader in Commerce, becoming a Professor in 1949.[2]

He was Deputy Chairman (1957-1961), then Chairman (1962-1968) of the Electricity Council; Chairman (1968-1975), then President (1975-1976) of Beecham Group Ltd; Director, ICI Ltd, 1969-1976; Director, Hill Samuel Group, 1974-1976; and, Chairman of British Leyland Ltd, 1975-1976.[2]

He was a member of several other bodies too, including the Advisory Council of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1949-1954; the University Grants Committee, 1955-1964; the National Economic Development Council, 1964-1968; and, the British Airways Board, 1971-1976. He chaired the Government committee of inquiry into the civil air transport industry, 1967-1969. He was a Governor of LSE, 1968-1976.[2]

Speaking in 1975 a few hours after being appointed non-executive chairman of British Leyland Limited, Edwards said he did not regard the company as being "bound to every conclusion and recommendation in the Ryder Report",[3] which said the government was throwing money away freely on British Leyland.[1]

Death

Ronald Edwards died age 65.[1]

 

Event Participated in

EventStartEndLocation(s)Description
Bilderberg/197017 April 197019 April 1970Switzerland
Hotel Quellenhof
Bad Ragaz
the 19th Bilderberg meeting, in Switzerland.
Many thanks to our Patrons who cover ~2/3 of our hosting bill. Please join them if you can.


References