Ian Lenagan
Encyclopedia
Ian Lenagan is a Business entrepreneur, theatre producer and shareholder of Harlequins RL & Oxford United FC as well as chairman and owner of Wigan Warriors
, playing for the local amateur club also named St. Patrick's.
He later moved onto nearby St.Helens
and was educated at West Park Grammar School before eventually moving onto University
. Ian attended both Manchester and Liverpool university and graduated from both with a BSc
in Mathematics
and a MSc
in Magnetohydrodynamics
from both universities respectively.
. The company, which develops and supplies software products for workforce management was very successful and expanded abroad to places across Europe
, Australasia
, the USA and the Middle East
. Major retailers that are known to use and trust Workplace Systems are Argos
, Focus
, Sports Café, Next & Morrisons
. With the success of Workplace Systems the company was floated on the London Stock Exchange
in 2000 under the name Telework Systems PLC to incorporate another company founded by Ian in 1981, TeleWare, which focused on the telephony software products market.
A decline in the telephone market saw TeleWare sold off to its management in 2003 and the company change its name to WorkPlace Systems International plc which Ian owns 49% of.
Ian is also a successful theatre producer with over 30 productions to his name. His most recent West End
hit is a co-production of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" starring Christian Slater
.
Ian is also the non-executive Chairman of the Sports Café, an expanding chain of sports bars and restaurants of which he owns 1%
Ian is a huge rugby league
fan. His successful business ventures have allowed him to become involved in the sport and in July 2005 he took over as Chairman and majority shareholder of Harlequins Rugby League, buying 65% of the shares and also taking a place on the board of directors and more recently became a major shareholder in Oxford United who are controlled by long-time friend Nick Merry
.
It was announced after months of speculation that Ian would become the new owner of Wigan Warriors
rugby league club, his boyhood team. Ian bought the club from former JJB Sports
magnate and Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan. As well as buying the club Ian has also bought the training facilities at Edge Hall Road
, the former stadium of Orrell R.U.F.C.
as well as a 50 year lease on the JJB Stadium
.
Lenagan's first signings for Wigan were George Carmont
and Richie Mathers
both from the NRL and Karl Pryce
who returned to Rugby League
from Rugby Union
club Gloucester
. Lenagan also signed-up Cameron Phelps
and Tim Smith, for the Wigan club, during the 2008 season.
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
Early life
Born in Scholes, Wigan Ian attended St. Patrick's Primary School as a child and gained a fond appreciation for rugby leagueRugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
, playing for the local amateur club also named St. Patrick's.
He later moved onto nearby St.Helens
St Helens, Merseyside
St Helens is a large town in Merseyside, England. It is the largest settlement and administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens with a population of just over 100,000, part of an urban area with a total population of 176,843 at the time of the 2001 Census...
and was educated at West Park Grammar School before eventually moving onto University
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
. Ian attended both Manchester and Liverpool university and graduated from both with a BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
in Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and a MSc
MSC
- Computers:* Mario Strikers Charged* Microsoft Common Console Document, file for the Microsoft Management Console* Microelectronics Support Centre* Microsoft Corporation* MIDI Show Control* Message Sequence Chart...
in Magnetohydrodynamics
Magnetohydrodynamics
Magnetohydrodynamics is an academic discipline which studies the dynamics of electrically conducting fluids. Examples of such fluids include plasmas, liquid metals, and salt water or electrolytes...
from both universities respectively.
Career
In 1985 Ian set up his own business, Workplace Systems, in Milton KeynesMilton Keynes
Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...
. The company, which develops and supplies software products for workforce management was very successful and expanded abroad to places across Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
, the USA and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Major retailers that are known to use and trust Workplace Systems are Argos
Argos (retailer)
Argos is the largest general-goods retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland with over 800 stores. It is unique amongst major retailers in the UK in that it is a catalogue merchant...
, Focus
Focus
Focus, FOCUS, or foci may refer to:In science, mathematics or computing:*Focus , selectively concentrating on one aspect of the environment while ignoring other things...
, Sports Café, Next & Morrisons
Morrisons
Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc is the fourth largest chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom, headquartered in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The company is usually referred to and is branded as Morrisons formerly Morrison's, and it is part of the FTSE 100 Index of companies...
. With the success of Workplace Systems the company was floated on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
in 2000 under the name Telework Systems PLC to incorporate another company founded by Ian in 1981, TeleWare, which focused on the telephony software products market.
A decline in the telephone market saw TeleWare sold off to its management in 2003 and the company change its name to WorkPlace Systems International plc which Ian owns 49% of.
Ian is also a successful theatre producer with over 30 productions to his name. His most recent West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
hit is a co-production of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" starring Christian Slater
Christian Slater
Christian Michael Leonard Slater is an American actor. He made his film debut with a small role in The Postman Always Rings Twice before playing a leading role in the 1985 film The Legend of Billie Jean...
.
Ian is also the non-executive Chairman of the Sports Café, an expanding chain of sports bars and restaurants of which he owns 1%
Ian is a huge rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
fan. His successful business ventures have allowed him to become involved in the sport and in July 2005 he took over as Chairman and majority shareholder of Harlequins Rugby League, buying 65% of the shares and also taking a place on the board of directors and more recently became a major shareholder in Oxford United who are controlled by long-time friend Nick Merry
Nick Merry
Nicholas "Nick" Merry is a British businessman who made his money in the United States running a now defunct Florida-based dental biotechnology company called MicroDenteX as well as investment in gemstones in Guinea....
.
It was announced after months of speculation that Ian would become the new owner of Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
rugby league club, his boyhood team. Ian bought the club from former JJB Sports
JJB Sports
JJB Sports plc is a United Kingdom sports retailer. It currently operates 251 stores in the UK and Ireland.- History :The sportshop chain was founded in 1971, when ex-footballer Dave Whelan acquired a single sports shop in Wigan. The original store was established by JJ Broughton in the early...
magnate and Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan. As well as buying the club Ian has also bought the training facilities at Edge Hall Road
Edge Hall Road
The Co-operative Community Stadium is the Wigan Warriors Rugby League club's high performance training complex and the home ground of the Wigan Warriors Senior Academy and Junior Academy teams and the former home ground of Orrell R.U.F.C.. The ground is located in the Orrell district of the...
, the former stadium of Orrell R.U.F.C.
Orrell R.U.F.C.
Orrell Rugby Union Football Club is a rugby union team from the Orrell area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester.The club were founded in 1927, holding a place in the top-tier of rugby union from 1986 to 1997.-1927–1939:...
as well as a 50 year lease on the JJB Stadium
JJB Stadium
The DW Stadium is a sports stadium in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, that is home to Wigan Athletic football club and Wigan Warriors rugby league club....
.
Lenagan's first signings for Wigan were George Carmont
George Carmont
George Carmont is a professional rugby league footballer for the Wigan Warriors of the Super League competition...
and Richie Mathers
Richard Mathers
Richard 'Richie' Mathers is an English rugby league footballerwho currently plays for the Castleford Tigers of Europe's Super League competition...
both from the NRL and Karl Pryce
Karl Pryce
Karl Pryce is an English rugby league player who currently plays for Wigan in the Super League competition. His position of choice is on the wing. Pryce previously played rugby league with the Bradford Bulls until 2006...
who returned to Rugby League
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
from Rugby Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club Gloucester
Gloucester RFC
Gloucester Rugby are a professional English rugby union club situated in the west country city of Gloucester. The club plays in the domestic Aviva Premiership...
. Lenagan also signed-up Cameron Phelps
Cameron Phelps
Cameron Phelps is an Australian rugby league player for Hull in the European Super League competition...
and Tim Smith, for the Wigan club, during the 2008 season.
External links
- Company Profile. WorkPlace Systems plc. Accessed November 8, 2007.
- Board of Directors. WorkPlace Systems plc. Accessed November 8, 2007.