John Leighfield
Encyclopedia
John P. Leighfield CBE is a British IT industry businessman and chairman of RM plc
.
John Leighfield was born in Oxford
, England
, and was a pupil at Magdalen College School
. He then read Greats at Exeter College
, Oxford.
Leighfield has pursued a career in IT
, initially in the 1960s with the Ford Motor Company
, Plessey
(where he was Head of Management Services) and British Leyland (from the early 1970s). In 1987, he led an employee buy out of Istel Ltd
, which he had established as a subsidiary of British Leyland. In 1989, the company was subsequently taken over by AT&T
. He was the Executive Chairman of AT&T Istel until April 1993.
In November 1993, he joined RM
(a British
educational computing company) as a non-executive director and in October 1994 became the non-executive Chairman. He has been a non-executive director of a number of other companies as well, including Halifax plc and Synstar plc (of which he is also non-executive Chairman).
Leighfield was President of the British Computer Society
(1993–4) and the Computing Services and Software Association (1995–6). He is President of the Institute for the Management of Information Systems
(IMIS), a UK professional association. He has been a member of the Council of University of Warwick
, Chairman of the Advisory Board, and an honorary visiting professor at the Warwick Business School
. He is currently Pro-Chancellor
and Chairman of the Council.
Leighfield was awarded a CBE in the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours List, and in 2006 was awarded the Mountbatten Medal
.
In 2005, he was appointed as a non-executive director of Getmapping plc and Master of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists
.
Leighfield lives in Oxford
. He was formerly Chairman of the Governors of Magdalen College School
. He is Chairman of the Oxford Philomusica
Advisory Council, the Resident Professional Orchestra at the University of Oxford. In his spare time, he has an interest in maps
, especially of Oxfordshire
. He is married with children and grandchildren.
RM plc
RM plc is a British company specialising in providing products and services to schools, colleges, universities and government education departments & agencies...
.
John Leighfield was born in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and was a pupil at Magdalen College School
Magdalen College School, Oxford
Magdalen College School is an independent school for boys aged 7 to 18 and girls in the sixth form, located on The Plain in Oxford, England. It was founded as part of Magdalen College, Oxford by William Waynflete in 1480....
. He then read Greats at Exeter College
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
, Oxford.
Leighfield has pursued a career in IT
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
, initially in the 1960s with the Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
, Plessey
Plessey
The Plessey Company plc was a British-based international electronics, defence and telecommunications company. It originated in 1917, growing and diversifying into electronics. It expanded after the second world war by acquisition of companies and formed overseas companies...
(where he was Head of Management Services) and British Leyland (from the early 1970s). In 1987, he led an employee buy out of Istel Ltd
ISTEL
ISTEL, formerly BL Systems, and latterly AT&T Istel, was a British information technology company.-History:The company was formed in 1979 as BL Systems Limited through a merger of the computer departments of various automotive manufacturing companies brought together under the British Leyland ...
, which he had established as a subsidiary of British Leyland. In 1989, the company was subsequently taken over by AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
. He was the Executive Chairman of AT&T Istel until April 1993.
In November 1993, he joined RM
RM plc
RM plc is a British company specialising in providing products and services to schools, colleges, universities and government education departments & agencies...
(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...
educational computing company) as a non-executive director and in October 1994 became the non-executive Chairman. He has been a non-executive director of a number of other companies as well, including Halifax plc and Synstar plc (of which he is also non-executive Chairman).
Leighfield was President of the British Computer Society
British Computer Society
The British Computer Society, is a professional body and a learned society that represents those working in Information Technology in the United Kingdom and internationally...
(1993–4) and the Computing Services and Software Association (1995–6). He is President of the Institute for the Management of Information Systems
Institute for the Management of Information Systems
The Institute for the Management of Information Systems is the leading international association promoting excellence in the field of Information Systems Management through professional association and education. Its headquarters is in the United Kingdom but the majority of its approximately...
(IMIS), a UK professional association. He has been a member of the Council of University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
, Chairman of the Advisory Board, and an honorary visiting professor at the Warwick Business School
Warwick Business School
Warwick Business School, also known as WBS, was established in 1967 as the School of Industrial and Business Studies.It offers undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD degree programmes,as well as non-degree executive education for individuals and companies....
. He is currently Pro-Chancellor
Pro-Chancellor
A Pro-Chancellor is an officer of some universities in Commonwealth countries. The Pro-Chancellor acts as a deputy to the Chancellor and as practical chairman of the University Council...
and Chairman of the Council.
Leighfield was awarded a CBE in the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours List, and in 2006 was awarded the Mountbatten Medal
Mountbatten Medal
The Mountbatten Medal is awarded annually for an outstanding contribution, or contributions over a period, to the promotion of electronics or information technology and their application....
.
In 2005, he was appointed as a non-executive director of Getmapping plc and Master of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists
Worshipful Company of Information Technologists
The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists , aka the Information Technologists' Company , is the 100th Livery Company of the City of London...
.
Leighfield lives in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. He was formerly Chairman of the Governors of Magdalen College School
Magdalen College School, Oxford
Magdalen College School is an independent school for boys aged 7 to 18 and girls in the sixth form, located on The Plain in Oxford, England. It was founded as part of Magdalen College, Oxford by William Waynflete in 1480....
. He is Chairman of the Oxford Philomusica
Oxford Philomusica
The Oxford Philomusica, based in Oxford, England, is an orchestra. It was launched with a concert at London's Barbican Centre in November 1998 and made its Oxford debut the following February at the Sheldonian Theatre...
Advisory Council, the Resident Professional Orchestra at the University of Oxford. In his spare time, he has an interest in maps
MAPS
Maps is the plural of map, a visual representation of an area.As an acronym, MAPS may refer to:* Mail Abuse Prevention System, an organisation that provides anti-spam support...
, especially of Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. He is married with children and grandchildren.