Louise Botting
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Louise Botting CBE
(born 19 September 1939) was presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Money Box programme between 1977 and 1992. After her broadcasting career, she became one of the first female directors of a FTSE-100 company, through her appointment to the board of CGNU (formerly General Accident, now Aviva
). She has also held non-executive directorships of other well known companies such as Trinity Mirror
, London Weekend Television
and Camelot Group
. In 1974, she founded the private wealth management firm Douglas Deakin Young, serving as its Managing Director and then Chairman until the firm was sold to Duncan Lawrie in 2005. Over the years, she has had an extensive portfolio of business interests.
) and went on to the London School of Economics
.
After her graduation in 1961 she joined the British merchant bank Kleinwort Benson
as one of their first female analysts. Her marriage to the writer and explorer Douglas Botting
led to a career break as she gave birth to her two daughters, Kate and Anna Botting
(now a newsreader with Sky News
). Her career in journalism started in 1970 when she started writing for the Daily Mail
. She started broadcasting with British Forces Broadcasting Service
in 1971 and continued to do this until 1981.
In 1974, she established the private wealth management firm Douglas Deakin Young, with the businessman George Douglas and James Deakin, a medical doctor. Her initial role was Managing Director, until her succession by Alan Warner in 1982, when she became Chairman. She remained in this role until the firm was sold to Duncan Lawrie in 2005.
’s Money Box. The aim of the programme was to make sensible personal financial advice available to ordinary people. The still ongoing programme covers a broad range of investment and tax issues, as well as covering major changes in social security. The popularity of the programme increased, attracting up to three million listeners each week. The political influence of the programme was highlighted by the fact that, at times, the Prime Minister’s office often asked to know the proposed content in advance.
By 1992, Botting wished to pursue other business interests and was asked to join the board of London Weekend Television
. This appointment was unpalatable to the BBC and Botting decided to resign from the programme. She was succeeded by Alison Mitchell.
) and Trinity Mirror
. She still remains a director of national lottery operator Camelot Group
.
She also acted as a member of the Top Salaries Review Body between 1987 and 1994, and was rewarded by Prime Minister
John Major
for her work and for services to journalism with a CBE
.
Her interests have also extended to local radio, with ownership of a number of different stakes. In 1995 she chaired the consortium who were awarded the new local radio licence for Stratford-upon-Avon, launching as The Bear in 1996.
She also acted as professional pension trustee to Channel Four, Blackwell Publishing
, W H Smith
and the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising
. After the sale of Douglas Deakin Young in 2005 to Duncan Lawrie, she stepped down as Chairman and now acts as a Consultant.
She is a patron of APT Action on Poverty (Registered Charity No. 290836).
, she married Leslie Carpenter who at the time was Chief Executive Officer of the FTSE-100 firm Reed International (now Reed Elsevier
). They live in the Cotswolds
.
Her daughter Anna Botting
also pursued a career in journalism and is now a newsreader with Sky News
, and her other daughter Kate is a documentary maker. Her brother John Young CBE is former Chief Executive Officer of the Securities & Futures Authority and the Securities & Investment Board (both now part of the UK financial services regulator, the Financial Services Authority
).
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(born 19 September 1939) was presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Money Box programme between 1977 and 1992. After her broadcasting career, she became one of the first female directors of a FTSE-100 company, through her appointment to the board of CGNU (formerly General Accident, now Aviva
Aviva
Aviva plc is a global insurance company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the sixth-largest insurance company in the world measured by net premium income and has 53 million customers in 28 countries...
). She has also held non-executive directorships of other well known companies such as Trinity Mirror
Trinity Mirror
Trinity Mirror plc is a large British newspaper and magazine publisher. It is Britain's biggest newspaper group, publishing 240 regional papers as well as the national Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and People, and the Scottish Sunday Mail and Daily Record. Its headquarters are at Canary Wharf in...
, London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television was the name of the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties including south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, east Dorset and...
and Camelot Group
Camelot Group
Camelot GroupCamelot is a private limited company, its entire share issue is owned by a single shareholder, as detailed above. are the operators of the UK National Lottery. Camelot Group was awarded the National Lottery franchise in 1993 and was re-awarded the franchise in 2001 and again in 2007...
. In 1974, she founded the private wealth management firm Douglas Deakin Young, serving as its Managing Director and then Chairman until the firm was sold to Duncan Lawrie in 2005. Over the years, she has had an extensive portfolio of business interests.
Early life and professional career
Botting was born into a middle class family, attending the local grammar school, Sutton Coldfield High School for Girls (now Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for GirlsSutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls is a state-funded selective grammar school and sixth form college for girls in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, West Midlands, England...
) and went on to the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
After her graduation in 1961 she joined the British merchant bank Kleinwort Benson
Kleinwort Benson
Kleinwort Benson is a leading Private Bank that offers a wide range of financial services to private and corporate clients from offices throughout the United Kingdom and Channel Islands. The bank has its headquarters on St George Street in Mayfair, and is supported by seven UK regional and two...
as one of their first female analysts. Her marriage to the writer and explorer Douglas Botting
Douglas Botting
Douglas Botting is an English explorer, author, biographer and TV presenter and producer. He wrote biographies of naturalists Gavin Maxwell and Gerald Durrell . He was the inspiration behind and writer of the BBC comedy show The Black Safari, a role reversal comedy show with Africans touring England...
led to a career break as she gave birth to her two daughters, Kate and Anna Botting
Anna Botting
Anna Elizabeth Botting is a British news anchor with Sky News, a broadcasting network based in the United Kingdom. She currently presents Sky News at Ten, Sky News at Eleven and Sky Midnight News from Monday to Thursday...
(now a newsreader with Sky News
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
). Her career in journalism started in 1970 when she started writing for the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
. She started broadcasting with British Forces Broadcasting Service
British Forces Broadcasting Service
The British Forces Broadcasting Service provides radio and television programmes for HM Forces, and their dependents, in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus, the Falkland Islands, Germany, Gibraltar, Kosovo, the Middle East, Northern Ireland and Tristan da Cunha as well as a live satellite...
in 1971 and continued to do this until 1981.
In 1974, she established the private wealth management firm Douglas Deakin Young, with the businessman George Douglas and James Deakin, a medical doctor. Her initial role was Managing Director, until her succession by Alan Warner in 1982, when she became Chairman. She remained in this role until the firm was sold to Duncan Lawrie in 2005.
BBC Radio 4's Money Box
In 1977, she was asked to be the founding presenter of BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
’s Money Box. The aim of the programme was to make sensible personal financial advice available to ordinary people. The still ongoing programme covers a broad range of investment and tax issues, as well as covering major changes in social security. The popularity of the programme increased, attracting up to three million listeners each week. The political influence of the programme was highlighted by the fact that, at times, the Prime Minister’s office often asked to know the proposed content in advance.
By 1992, Botting wished to pursue other business interests and was asked to join the board of London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television was the name of the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties including south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, east Dorset and...
. This appointment was unpalatable to the BBC and Botting decided to resign from the programme. She was succeeded by Alison Mitchell.
After BBC Radio 4's Money Box
Botting has pursued many other business interests. In addition to Douglas Deakin Young and London Weekend Television, she served as non-executive director of CGNU (formerly General Accident, now AvivaAviva
Aviva plc is a global insurance company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the sixth-largest insurance company in the world measured by net premium income and has 53 million customers in 28 countries...
) and Trinity Mirror
Trinity Mirror
Trinity Mirror plc is a large British newspaper and magazine publisher. It is Britain's biggest newspaper group, publishing 240 regional papers as well as the national Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and People, and the Scottish Sunday Mail and Daily Record. Its headquarters are at Canary Wharf in...
. She still remains a director of national lottery operator Camelot Group
Camelot Group
Camelot GroupCamelot is a private limited company, its entire share issue is owned by a single shareholder, as detailed above. are the operators of the UK National Lottery. Camelot Group was awarded the National Lottery franchise in 1993 and was re-awarded the franchise in 2001 and again in 2007...
.
She also acted as a member of the Top Salaries Review Body between 1987 and 1994, and was rewarded by Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
John Major
John Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
for her work and for services to journalism with a CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
.
Her interests have also extended to local radio, with ownership of a number of different stakes. In 1995 she chaired the consortium who were awarded the new local radio licence for Stratford-upon-Avon, launching as The Bear in 1996.
She also acted as professional pension trustee to Channel Four, Blackwell Publishing
Blackwell Publishing
Wiley-Blackwell is the international scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly publishing business of John Wiley & Sons. It was formed by the merger of John Wiley's Global Scientific, Technical, and Medical business with Blackwell Publishing, after Wiley took over Blackwell Publishing in...
, W H Smith
W H Smith
WHSmith plc is a British retailer, headquartered in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. It is best known for its chain of high street, railway station, airport, hospital and motorway service station shops selling books, stationery, magazines, newspapers, and entertainment products...
and the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising
Institute of Practitioners in Advertising
The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising is the trade body and professional institute for 250 leading agencies in the UK's advertising, media and marketing communications industry, covering the creative, digital, direct marketing, healthcare, media, outdoor, sales promotion and sponsorship...
. After the sale of Douglas Deakin Young in 2005 to Duncan Lawrie, she stepped down as Chairman and now acts as a Consultant.
She is a patron of APT Action on Poverty (Registered Charity No. 290836).
Personal life
After her divorce from writer and explorer Douglas BottingDouglas Botting
Douglas Botting is an English explorer, author, biographer and TV presenter and producer. He wrote biographies of naturalists Gavin Maxwell and Gerald Durrell . He was the inspiration behind and writer of the BBC comedy show The Black Safari, a role reversal comedy show with Africans touring England...
, she married Leslie Carpenter who at the time was Chief Executive Officer of the FTSE-100 firm Reed International (now Reed Elsevier
Reed Elsevier
Reed Elsevier is a publisher and information provider operating in the science, medical, legal, risk and business sectors. It is listed on several of the world's major stock exchanges. It is a FTSE 100 and FT500 Global company...
). They live in the Cotswolds
Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in west-central England, sometimes called the Heart of England, an area across and long. The area has been designated as the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
.
Her daughter Anna Botting
Anna Botting
Anna Elizabeth Botting is a British news anchor with Sky News, a broadcasting network based in the United Kingdom. She currently presents Sky News at Ten, Sky News at Eleven and Sky Midnight News from Monday to Thursday...
also pursued a career in journalism and is now a newsreader with Sky News
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
, and her other daughter Kate is a documentary maker. Her brother John Young CBE is former Chief Executive Officer of the Securities & Futures Authority and the Securities & Investment Board (both now part of the UK financial services regulator, the Financial Services Authority
Financial Services Authority
The Financial Services Authority is a quasi-judicial body responsible for the regulation of the financial services industry in the United Kingdom. Its board is appointed by the Treasury and the organisation is structured as a company limited by guarantee and owned by the UK government. Its main...
).