Brian McGowan (businessman)
Encyclopedia
Brian Dennis McGowan is the co-founder of Williams Holdings
, one of the United Kingdom
's largest conglomerates
.
s in London
.
McGowan joined London & Northern, a minor conglomerate
, before moving to P&O and then becoming Managing Director of Sime Darby
in Hong Kong
.
In 1991, together with Nigel Rudd
, he acquired a majority stake in W Williams
, a small Welsh
engineering
business and, as Chief Executive, expanded it into one of the United Kingdom
's largest conglomerates
. He retired from the business in the early 1990s.
He then became Chairman of House of Fraser
in 1993. From 2004 to 2008 he was Chairman of Rentokil Initial
. From 1997 to 2009 he was also Chairman of Umeco plc.
Since 2002 he has been chairman of international corporate finance advisory firm Catalyst Corporate Finance.
Williams Holdings
Williams Holdings was a major British conglomerate. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.-History:...
, one of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's largest conglomerates
Conglomerate (company)
A conglomerate is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate structure , usually involving a parent company and several subsidiaries. Often, a conglomerate is a multi-industry company...
.
Career
Educated at Isleworth Grammar School, Brian McGowan initially trained at a firm of accountantAccountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
s in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
McGowan joined London & Northern, a minor conglomerate
Conglomerate (company)
A conglomerate is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate structure , usually involving a parent company and several subsidiaries. Often, a conglomerate is a multi-industry company...
, before moving to P&O and then becoming Managing Director of Sime Darby
Sime Darby
Sime Darby is Malaysia's leading multinational conglomerate involved in five core sectors: plantations, property, industrial, motors and energy & utilities, with a growing presence in healthcare...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
In 1991, together with Nigel Rudd
Nigel Rudd
Sir Nigel Rudd is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. In 1982, he founded Williams Holdings, a company which went on to become one of the largest industrial holding companies in the United Kingdom until its demerger in November 2000, creating Chubb plc and Kidde plc...
, he acquired a majority stake in W Williams
Williams Holdings
Williams Holdings was a major British conglomerate. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.-History:...
, a small Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
business and, as Chief Executive, expanded it into one of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's largest conglomerates
Conglomerate (company)
A conglomerate is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate structure , usually involving a parent company and several subsidiaries. Often, a conglomerate is a multi-industry company...
. He retired from the business in the early 1990s.
He then became Chairman of House of Fraser
House of Fraser
House of Fraser is a British department store group with over 60 stores across the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was established in Glasgow, Scotland in 1849 as Arthur and Fraser. By 1891 it was known as Fraser & Sons. The company grew steadily during the early 20th century, but after the Second...
in 1993. From 2004 to 2008 he was Chairman of Rentokil Initial
Rentokil Initial
Rentokil Initial is a major British business services group. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
. From 1997 to 2009 he was also Chairman of Umeco plc.
Since 2002 he has been chairman of international corporate finance advisory firm Catalyst Corporate Finance.