Claude Littner
Encyclopedia
Claude Littner is a British
business executive, the current Chairman of Viglen
, also known from his appearances on the BBC
-produced British version of The Apprentice
, interviewing for his former boss Lord Sugar
.
Littner served as: Non-Executive Chairman of Azzurri Communications; Deputy Chairman of Blacks Leisure Group
from August 2008 to July 2009; Executive Chairman of ASCO
from 2004 to 2007; Non-Executive Director of Norton Way Motors Ltd and Myeloma UK.
A Non-Executive Director of Amstrad PLC since June 2007, in 2009 Sugar resigned a majority of his UK company directorships, handing over his former management duties to Littner, inclduing the chairman's post at Viglen.
for tickets to a game. He resigned his directorship in 2001.
Littner bought into Powerleague, a five-a-side football
centre operator in 2001. After leading a management buyout
from 3i
Group in 2003, it floated on AIM
in 2006. The company was taken over in 2009 by Patron capital
.
ing on The Apprentice.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
business executive, the current Chairman of Viglen
Viglen
Viglen Ltd provides IT products and services, including storage systems, servers, workstations and data/voice communications equipment and services.- History :...
, also known from his appearances on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
-produced British version of The Apprentice
The Apprentice (UK)
The Apprentice is a British reality television series in which a group of aspiring young businessmen and women compete for the chance to win a £100,000-a-year job as an apprentice to the British business magnate Lord Sugar in series one to six...
, interviewing for his former boss Lord Sugar
Alan Sugar
Alan Michael Sugar, Baron Sugar is a British entrepreneur, media personality and political advisor. From humble origins in the East End of London, Sugar now has an estimated fortune of £770m , and was ranked 89th in the Sunday Times Rich List 2011...
.
Career
After training as an accountant, Littner developed a specialist career as a turn around specialist. It was in this role that he met then Alan Sugar, and agreed to chair a number of Sugar's companies. In the early 1990s, Littner was Chairman and Chief Executive of Amstrad International, Amstrad Spain and Dancall Telecom.Littner served as: Non-Executive Chairman of Azzurri Communications; Deputy Chairman of Blacks Leisure Group
Blacks Leisure Group
Blacks Leisure Group plc of Northampton, UK owns British outdoor retailers Blacks, Millets and Free Spirit. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE Fledgling Index.-Structure:It is based at , Northampton...
from August 2008 to July 2009; Executive Chairman of ASCO
Ascó
Ascó is a large village in the comarca of Ribera d'Ebre, Catalonia, Spain, on the right bank of the Ebre river. The village of Ascó is known for its nuclear power station, and for excellent fishing in the river....
from 2004 to 2007; Non-Executive Director of Norton Way Motors Ltd and Myeloma UK.
A Non-Executive Director of Amstrad PLC since June 2007, in 2009 Sugar resigned a majority of his UK company directorships, handing over his former management duties to Littner, inclduing the chairman's post at Viglen.
Football
When Sugar was majority owner and chairman of Tottenham Hotspur, Littner was its Chief Executive from 1993 to 1998. He once almost turned down a request from The Princess RoyalAnne, Princess Royal
Princess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
for tickets to a game. He resigned his directorship in 2001.
Littner bought into Powerleague, a five-a-side football
Five-a-side football
thumb|240px|alt=Men playing football on artificial grass pitch.|Five-a-side game on astroturf pitch.Five-a-side football is a variation of association football in which each team fields five players , rather than the usual eleven on each team. Other differences from football include a smaller...
centre operator in 2001. After leading a management buyout
Management buyout
A management buyout is a form of acquisition where a company's existing managers acquire a large part or all of the company.- Overview :Management buyouts are similar in all major legal aspects to any other acquisition of a company...
from 3i
3i
3i Group plc is a multinational private equity and venture capital company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has offices in 13 countries across Asia, Europe and the Americas and had total assets under management of £12.7 billion as at 31 March 2011...
Group in 2003, it floated on AIM
Alternative Investment Market
AIM is a sub-market of the London Stock Exchange, allowing smaller companies to float shares with a more flexible regulatory system than is applicable to the main market....
in 2006. The company was taken over in 2009 by Patron capital
Patron capital
Patron Capital Partners focuses on property-based investments throughout Europe. Through its three funds and related co-investments, Patron has invested and has committed capital of approximately €1.7 billion. Since 1999, the Funds have made over 55 investments involving approximately in 12...
.
The Apprentice
He came to wider UK public recognition, through his direct style of job interviewJob interview
A job interview is a process in which a potential employee is evaluated by an employer for prospective employment in their company, organization, or firm. During this process, the employer hopes to determine whether or not the applicant is suitable for the job.-Role:A job interview typically...
ing on The Apprentice.