Ronald Edwards
 Ronald Edwards  ( businessman, academic) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1 May 1910 |
| Died | 18 January 1976 (Age 65) London, UK |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | University 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
| Event | Start | End | Location(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilderberg/1970 | 17 April 1970 | 19 April 1970 | Switzerland Hotel Quellenhof Bad Ragaz | the 19th Bilderberg meeting, in Switzerland. |
References
- ↑ Jump up to: a b c https://www.aronline.co.uk/people/people-the-forgotten-chairmen-sir-ronald-edwards/
- ↑ Jump up to: a b c d https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/77e4089a-1c6d-3930-b6ba-bdf89eaaf9dc
- ↑ https://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/news/archive/1975-10/sir-ronald-edwards-made-non-executive-chairman-of-british-leyland-board/
