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Ken Wood (manufacturer)
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Wood was an entrepreneur and business man who is most famous for the development of the eponymous Kenwood Chef food mixer.
London, England UK.
He was brought up in Chelsfield in Kent and was educated at Bromley County School before leaving home in 1930, aged 14 to join the merchant navy for five years, after which he studied electrical engineering and accountancy at night school. A year later, in 1936, he set up his own company, Dickson & Wood, selling, installing and repairing radios and televisions.
In 1939 he sold the company and joined the Royal Air Force where he worked as an engineer at the Admiralty developing radar and electronic controls.
After the war he founded Woodlau Industries, with wartime colleague Roger Laurence, starting production in 1947 with the A100 turnover toaster, an appliance that was uncommon in Britain at that time, and then the A200 food mixer - the predecessor of the Kenwood Chef
which was launched in 1950. When Roger Laurence left the company, Wood changed the name to Kenwood Manufacturing Company Ltd.
Kenwood's products were successful because Wood identified household tasks that gave housewives most work and developed machines to do those jobs. Within a few years of setting up the company, he was one of Britain's youngest millionaires. However, in 1968,
Wood parted company with Kenwood Manufacturing after a hostile takeover by Thorn Electrical Industries Ltd. although he maintained an interest in the company until his death.
On 31 May 1972, he was granted the Freedom of the City of London as a result of his membership of the London livery company called the Worshipful Company of Farriers.
Between 1972 and 1980 Wood was Chairman and Managing Director of the Dawson-Keith Group of Companies and in 1984 he was appointed Fellow of the Institute of Ophthalmology
.
He founded Forest Mere Health Farm and the keen golfer invested in Old Thorns Golf & Country Estate club near his Hampshire home with television commentator Peter Alliss, both in Liphook
, Hampshire
, and was also chairman of the governors of Wispers School in Haslemere
, Surrey (which closed in 2008).
He was Managing Director of Hydrotech Systems between 1984-87.
Wood died on 19 October 1997 at Liphook in Hampshire after a short illness. He left a widow, Patricia, two sons and two daughters by his previous marriage and three stepsons.
Life and career
Wood was born on 4 October 1916 in LewishamLewisham
Lewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
London, England UK.
In 1939 he sold the company and joined the Royal Air Force where he worked as an engineer at the Admiralty developing radar and electronic controls.
After the war he founded Woodlau Industries, with wartime colleague Roger Laurence, starting production in 1947 with the A100 turnover toaster, an appliance that was uncommon in Britain at that time, and then the A200 food mixer - the predecessor of the Kenwood Chef
Kenwood Chef
The Kenwood Chef is a food mixer developed by Ken Wood in Britain. It is a single machine with a number of attachments that allow it to perform many functions. The Chef, based on the earlier A200, was introduced in 1950...
which was launched in 1950. When Roger Laurence left the company, Wood changed the name to Kenwood Manufacturing Company Ltd.
Kenwood's products were successful because Wood identified household tasks that gave housewives most work and developed machines to do those jobs. Within a few years of setting up the company, he was one of Britain's youngest millionaires. However, in 1968,
Wood parted company with Kenwood Manufacturing after a hostile takeover by Thorn Electrical Industries Ltd. although he maintained an interest in the company until his death.
On 31 May 1972, he was granted the Freedom of the City of London as a result of his membership of the London livery company called the Worshipful Company of Farriers.
Between 1972 and 1980 Wood was Chairman and Managing Director of the Dawson-Keith Group of Companies and in 1984 he was appointed Fellow of the Institute of Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
.
He founded Forest Mere Health Farm and the keen golfer invested in Old Thorns Golf & Country Estate club near his Hampshire home with television commentator Peter Alliss, both in Liphook
Liphook
Liphook is a large village in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is 4.1 miles west of Haslemere, on the A3 road, and lies on the Hampshire/West Sussex border.Liphook has its own railway station, on the Portsmouth Direct Line....
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, and was also chairman of the governors of Wispers School in Haslemere
Haslemere
Haslemere is a town in Surrey, England, close to the border with both Hampshire and West Sussex. The major road between London and Portsmouth, the A3, lies to the west, and a branch of the River Wey to the south. Haslemere is approximately south-west of Guildford.Haslemere is surrounded by hills,...
, Surrey (which closed in 2008).
He was Managing Director of Hydrotech Systems between 1984-87.
Wood died on 19 October 1997 at Liphook in Hampshire after a short illness. He left a widow, Patricia, two sons and two daughters by his previous marriage and three stepsons.