Graham Wilkins
 Graham Wilkins    (businessman) | ||||||||||||||
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| Died | 2 July 2003 | |||||||||||||
| Nationality | UK | |||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Exeter University | |||||||||||||
| Spouse | • Daphne Mildred Haynes • Helen Catherine McGregor | |||||||||||||
British Big Pharma executive who attended Bilderberg/1977.
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Sir Graham ("Bob") Wilkins was chairman and chief executive of Beecham Group (now part of GlaxoSmithKline) from 1975 to 1984.[1]
Contents
Background
One of the six children of a school teacher, Graham John Wilkins was born at Mudford, Somerset, on January 22 1924. After attending Yeovil Grammar School, Bob Wilkins went on to University College, Exeter (now Exeter University), where he took a BSc. [1][2]
Career
During the war he was appointed by the government to work as a research scientist with Anglo-Iranian Oil (the forerunner of BP), but felt that there were better career prospects with Beecham. He was put in charge of the construction of a toothpaste factory in India. He then went to work for the company in North America - he was a director and vice-president of Beecham (Canada) from 1954 to 1959 - before returning to Britain to help develop Beecham's fledgling pharmaceuticals division.[1]
He devoted most of his career to the Beecham Group. From 1962 to 1964 Wilkins was a director of the Pharmaceuticals Division, of which he was also chairman from 1964 to 1972. In 1972 he was appointed managing director (Pharmaceuticals) of the Beecham Group. He was appointed chairman and chief executive from 1975 to 1984 (and its president from 1984 to 1989).[1]
Higher executive pay
In 1982, senior officers from major UK-based companies, including Boots, the Beecham Group (now part of GlaxoSmithKline), Rio Tinto and Unilever, came together at Imperial Chemicals House to discuss boardroom pay, which they all agreed was too low. Sir Graham Wilkins, chair and chief executive of the Beecham Group, suggested that they approach the Institute of Economic Affairs to produce a written rationale supporting a trend towards higher remuneration.[3]
Thorn EMI
He came to public attention in 1985 when, having apparently withdrawn from full-time work, he was suddenly invited to take over as chairman of Thorn EMI, at a difficult time in the company's history. Wilkins took over as chairman of Thorn EMI from Peter Laister in 1985 after what was described as "the most dramatic boardroom coup the City has witnessed for years"[1].
Board positions
Wilkins was on the boards of the Hill Samuel Group from 1977 to 1987; Rowntree (1985-88); Eastern Electricity (1989-95); and Courage Pensions (from 1989). He was president of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (1969-71); of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries' Association (1978-82); and of the Advertising Association (1983-89).[1]
He was elected to honorary fellowships of the Royal College of Physicians and the School of Pharmacy, University of London.
He was chairman at the International Chamber of Commerce.[1]
He was knighted in 1980.[1]
Event Participated in
| Event | Start | End | Location(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilderberg/1977 | 22 April 1977 | 24 April 1977 | Imperial Hotel Torquay United Kingdom | The 25th Bilderberg, held in Torquay, England. |
