Giles Clarke: Difference between revisions
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===Business career=== |
===Business career=== |
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Clarke began his career as an [[investment banker]] with [[Credit Suisse First Boston]]. In [[1981]] he bought from recievership the assets of what became [[Majestic Wines]],<ref name="LSC"/> where as Chairman he built it into a UK national chain, |
Clarke began his career as an [[investment banker]] with [[Credit Suisse First Boston]]. In [[1981]] he bought from recievership the assets of what became [[Majestic Wines]],<ref name="LSC"/> where as Chairman he built it into a UK national chain. From August 1987 to May 1988, Clarke was chairman of Majestic Wine Corporation Inc, a [[United States]] company which owned a chain of 104 stores trading as [[Liquor Barn]] in [[California]] and [[Arizona]].<ref>[http://www.digitallook.com/news/rns/166762-24874/SVO-Directorate_Change.html tecc-IS plc - Directorate Change] digitallook.com - 12 December, 2003</ref> Following disposal of the US based businesses, he sold the UK plc business of majestic Wines for £15 million in 1989. In 1990 he founded [[Pet City]], where as CEO he built it into a chain of 94 stores. After taking the business public in 1995, he sold the business for £150 million in 1996. In 1998, Clarke founded [[Safestore]], building it into the UK's third largest [[self storage]] company, selling it to [[Bridgepoint Capital]] for £44million in August 2003. |
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Clarke is currently Chairman and controlling shareholder, via his controlling company West Country Ventures Ltd, of: |
Clarke is currently Chairman and controlling shareholder, via his controlling company West Country Ventures Ltd, of: |
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Revision as of 11:29, 18 October 2007
C. Giles Clarke (born 1955),[1] is a British businessman and cricket enthusiast, who is currently chair of the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Biography
Clarke was educated at Rugby School and Oriel College, University of Oxford, graduating with a MA in Persian with Arabic. He then spent a year at the University of Damascus.[2]
Business career
Clarke began his career as an investment banker with Credit Suisse First Boston. In 1981 he bought from recievership the assets of what became Majestic Wines,[1] where as Chairman he built it into a UK national chain. From August 1987 to May 1988, Clarke was chairman of Majestic Wine Corporation Inc, a United States company which owned a chain of 104 stores trading as Liquor Barn in California and Arizona.[3] Following disposal of the US based businesses, he sold the UK plc business of majestic Wines for £15 million in 1989. In 1990 he founded Pet City, where as CEO he built it into a chain of 94 stores. After taking the business public in 1995, he sold the business for £150 million in 1996. In 1998, Clarke founded Safestore, building it into the UK's third largest self storage company, selling it to Bridgepoint Capital for £44million in August 2003.
Clarke is currently Chairman and controlling shareholder, via his controlling company West Country Ventures Ltd, of:
- ATL Telecom - Cardiff based data transmission design equipment company, which manufactures in China[4][5]
- Fosters Event Catering - a West Country based independent caterer[6]
- CCI International - the UK's largest clay pigeon equipment manufacturer
- West Country Business Systems - develops software systems for managing independent schools.
- Boston Tea Party - a West Country based chain of coffee shops
- Pure Wafer plc - presently the only European based silicon chip test wafer reclaim company
Clarke is also Chairman of the advisory board of the venture capital company Hamilton Bradshaw, alongside majority sharholder CEO James Caan.
Public service
Clarke is a National Council member of the Learning and Skills Council, the largest quango in the UK with a budget of £10 billion, responsible for all UK adult learning.[1] Clarke is also a member of the Adult Learning Committee, a statutory body set up by the UK Parliament. He was Deputy Chair of the EU Task Force on Skills and Mobility and presented its report to the Barcelona Summit in 2002.[2]
Clarke is also Deputy Chairman of the Bristol Old Vic theatre, and a patron of Changing Faces, the UK national charity supporting and representing people with disfigurement.
Cricket
Clarke became chairman of Somerset County Cricket Club, becoming instrumental in developing the club both on and off field. He resultantly became a non-executive director of the England and Wales Cricket Board, and as Chairman of Marketing led the negotiations for their new four year TV and radio broadcasting rights deal signed with BSkyB, Channel Five and the BBC in December 2004.[7] On 25 September, 2007 Clarke was voted in as Chairman of the ECB.[8]
References
- ^ a b c About Us: National Council - C Giles Clarke Learning & Skills Council
- ^ a b Entrepreneurs Question Time SetSquared - 4 October, 2007
- ^ tecc-IS plc - Directorate Change digitallook.com - 12 December, 2003
- ^ ATL Telecom announces £20 million 3 year contract to provide enhancements to BT’s KiloStream network ATL Telecom
- ^ Interview with Giles Clarke - West Country Financier and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, ATL Telecom Ltd Commonwealth Government & Business Guide to Information and Communication Technolog
- ^ Fosters spread the word and their Wings Fosters Catering - 14th February 2007
- ^ ECB TV rights deal with Sky and Five ECB - 16 December, 2004
- ^ Clarke wins ECB chairmanship vote BBC Sport - 25 September 2007