David Edmonds
Encyclopedia
David Albert Edmonds CBE
(born 6 March 1944) is a British
businessperson
, civil servant and administrator, chair of the Legal Services Board
.
The son of Albert and Gladys Edmonds of Kingsley, Cheshire
, he was educated at Helsby Grammar School and the University of Keele. He worked as a civil servant from 1966 to 1974 before becoming a visiting fellow
at Johns Hopkins University
in the U.S.. Returning to the British civil service
in 1975, from 1979 until 1983 he was Principal Private Secretary to Michael Heseltine, Secretary of State for the Environment. After a year as the Under Secretary for Inner City Policy, he became chief executive of the Housing Corporation
from 1984 to 1991. He was deputy chair of the board of the New Statesman and Society from 1988 to 1990. He became a managing director within NatWest Group
in 1991. He was Director General of Oftel
from 1998 to 2003 and chair of NHS Direct
from 2004 until 2008. He was appointed the chair of the Legal Services Board on 17 May 2008. He became Chairman of Wincanton PLC
in August 2008.
He is a board member
of Hammerson plc (2003-), Wincanton PLC
(2005-) and William Hill plc (2005-).
He was the Chairman of charity
CRISIS (1994–1999) and was a member of the Council of Keele University (1996–2004).
He married Ruth Beech in 1966 and the couple have two sons, two daughters and 11 grandchildren. He lists his recreations as opera
, golf
, walking
and films.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 6 March 1944) is a British
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...
businessperson
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
, civil servant and administrator, chair of the Legal Services Board
Legal Services Board
The Legal Services Board is the new, independent body responsible for overseeing the regulation of lawyers in England and Wales. It is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice...
.
The son of Albert and Gladys Edmonds of Kingsley, Cheshire
Kingsley, Cheshire
Kingsley is a civil parish and a village in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is approximately 5 miles south east of the town of Frodsham....
, he was educated at Helsby Grammar School and the University of Keele. He worked as a civil servant from 1966 to 1974 before becoming a visiting fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in the U.S.. Returning to the British civil service
British Civil Service
Her Majesty's Home Civil Service, also known as the Home Civil Service, is the permanent bureaucracy of Crown employees that supports Her Majesty's Government - the government of the United Kingdom, composed of a Cabinet of ministers chosen by the prime minister, as well as the devolved...
in 1975, from 1979 until 1983 he was Principal Private Secretary to Michael Heseltine, Secretary of State for the Environment. After a year as the Under Secretary for Inner City Policy, he became chief executive of the Housing Corporation
Housing Corporation
The Housing Corporation was the non-departmental public body that funded new affordable housing and regulated housing associations in England. It was established by the Housing Act 1964...
from 1984 to 1991. He was deputy chair of the board of the New Statesman and Society from 1988 to 1990. He became a managing director within NatWest Group
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank Plc, commonly known as NatWest, is the largest retail and commercial bank in the United Kingdom and has been part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc since 2000. The Royal Bank of Scotland Group is ranked as the second largest bank in the world by assets...
in 1991. He was Director General of Oftel
Oftel
Oftel has been superseded as the British telecommunications regulator by Ofcom .----The Office of Telecommunications was a department in the United Kingdom government, under civil service control, charged with promoting competition and maintaining the interests of consumers in the UK...
from 1998 to 2003 and chair of NHS Direct
NHS Direct
NHS Direct is the health advice and information service provided by the National Health Service for residents and visitors in England, with advice offered 24 hours a day, every day of the year through telephone contact on the national 0845 46 47 number, web based symptom checkers at and via...
from 2004 until 2008. He was appointed the chair of the Legal Services Board on 17 May 2008. He became Chairman of Wincanton PLC
Wincanton PLC
Wincanton plc is a British provider of logistics with its origins in milk haulage. The company provides transport and logistics services including specialist automated high bay, high capacity warehouses, and supply chain management for businesses. Wincanton's specialist markets include water,...
in August 2008.
He is a board member
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of Hammerson plc (2003-), Wincanton PLC
Wincanton PLC
Wincanton plc is a British provider of logistics with its origins in milk haulage. The company provides transport and logistics services including specialist automated high bay, high capacity warehouses, and supply chain management for businesses. Wincanton's specialist markets include water,...
(2005-) and William Hill plc (2005-).
He was the Chairman of charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
CRISIS (1994–1999) and was a member of the Council of Keele University (1996–2004).
He married Ruth Beech in 1966 and the couple have two sons, two daughters and 11 grandchildren. He lists his recreations as opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, walking
Walking
Walking is one of the main gaits of locomotion among legged animals, and is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined by an 'inverted pendulum' gait in which the body vaults over the stiff limb or limbs with each step...
and films.