Martin Broughton
Encyclopedia
Sir Martin Faulkner Broughton (born 1947) is a British
businessman who is the current chairman of British Airways
and former chairman of Liverpool Football Club. He is also the Deputy President of Confederation of British Industry
(having served as President
from 2007 to 2009).
in 1971, becoming Finance Director in 1988, Group Chief Executive and Deputy Chairman in 1993 and, ultimately, Chairman and Chief Executive in 1998. In 1999, he also became an independent director of the British Horseracing Board
, eventually succeeding Peter Saville as Chairman in July 2004, at which point he retired from his roles at BAT.
Other directorships which Broughton has held include Wiggins Teape Group
1989–90 (as Chairman), Eagle Star 1992–93 (as Chairman) and
Whitbread
1993–2000 (as Non-executive Director).
Broughton was knighted
in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to business.
board as a non-executive director in May 2000 became the Deputy Chairman in November 2003 and became Chairman in July 2004.
supporter).
On 6 October 2010, it was announced that Liverpool FC was to be sold to New England Sports Ventures
for the sum of £300m – significantly lower than the sums being requested by the club's existing owners, Tom Hicks
and George Gillett. In an attempt to scupper the deal, Tom Hicks attempted to sack Broughton's fellow directors Christian Purslow and Ian Ayre and install his son Mack Hicks and his assistant Lori Kay McCutcheon to reconstitute the board. This would give Hicks and Gillette control of the board and effectively block the sale.
However, on his appointment, Broughton had insisted that he be the only person with this right, and this clause had been installed into the articles of association of Liverpool FC.
Broughton and the rest of the Liverpool FC board won in a High Court case against Hicks and Gillett on 13 October 2010 so they could press on with the sale of the club, described by the fans' group Kop Faithful as “It’s like a huge cloud has been lifted off us.....Hicks and Gillett leave with no legacy, apart from one of chaos.”
as part of the government's privatisation process. The bid was made through an investment vehicle called Sports Investment Partners, with which his son Michael is also involved. The bid was one of five that successfully passed the first round of the process in January 2011.
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...
businessman who is the current chairman of British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
and former chairman of Liverpool Football Club. He is also the Deputy President of Confederation of British Industry
Confederation of British Industry
The Confederation of British Industry is a British not for profit organisation incorporated by Royal charter which promotes the interests of its members, some 200,000 British businesses, a figure which includes some 80% of FTSE 100 companies and around 50% of FTSE 350 companies.-Role:The CBI works...
(having served as President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
from 2007 to 2009).
Early career
Broughton joined British American TobaccoBritish American Tobacco
British American Tobacco p.l.c. is a global tobacco company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second largest quoted tobacco company by global market share , with a leading position in more than 50 countries and a presence in more than 180 countries...
in 1971, becoming Finance Director in 1988, Group Chief Executive and Deputy Chairman in 1993 and, ultimately, Chairman and Chief Executive in 1998. In 1999, he also became an independent director of the British Horseracing Board
British Horseracing Board
From 10 June 1993 until 30 July 2007, the British Horseracing Board was the governing authority for horseracing in Great Britain. It was created in 1993, and took on responsibilities previously held by the Jockey Club...
, eventually succeeding Peter Saville as Chairman in July 2004, at which point he retired from his roles at BAT.
Other directorships which Broughton has held include Wiggins Teape Group
Arjo Wiggins
Arjo Wiggins is a leading producer of paper products. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and used to be a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but is now owned by Worms & Cie.-History:...
1989–90 (as Chairman), Eagle Star 1992–93 (as Chairman) and
Whitbread
Whitbread
Whitbread PLC is a global hotel, coffee shop and restaurant company headquartered in Dunstable, United Kingdom. Its largest division is Premier Inn, which is the largest hotel brand in the UK with around 580 hotels and over 40,000 rooms. Its Costa Coffee chain has around 1,600 stores across 25...
1993–2000 (as Non-executive Director).
Broughton was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to business.
British Airways Chairman
Martin Broughton joined the British AirwaysBritish Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
board as a non-executive director in May 2000 became the Deputy Chairman in November 2003 and became Chairman in July 2004.
Liverpool F.C. Chairman
On 10 April 2010, it was announced that Liverpool FC approached Martin Broughton to be their new chairman. On 16 April, it was confirmed that he was the new chairman (despite the fact that he is a lifelong ChelseaChelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
supporter).
On 6 October 2010, it was announced that Liverpool FC was to be sold to New England Sports Ventures
New England Sports Ventures
Fenway Sports Group is an American sports investment company. It is the parent company of Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox and Premier League football club Liverpool F.C.....
for the sum of £300m – significantly lower than the sums being requested by the club's existing owners, Tom Hicks
Tom Hicks
Thomas Ollis Hicks, Sr. , is an American 'leveraged buyout' businessman living in Dallas, Texas. Despite Forbes Magazine estimating Hicks' wealth at USD 1 billion in 2009, Hicks was unable to pay off joint loans of circa £200 million the following year...
and George Gillett. In an attempt to scupper the deal, Tom Hicks attempted to sack Broughton's fellow directors Christian Purslow and Ian Ayre and install his son Mack Hicks and his assistant Lori Kay McCutcheon to reconstitute the board. This would give Hicks and Gillette control of the board and effectively block the sale.
However, on his appointment, Broughton had insisted that he be the only person with this right, and this clause had been installed into the articles of association of Liverpool FC.
Broughton and the rest of the Liverpool FC board won in a High Court case against Hicks and Gillett on 13 October 2010 so they could press on with the sale of the club, described by the fans' group Kop Faithful as “It’s like a huge cloud has been lifted off us.....Hicks and Gillett leave with no legacy, apart from one of chaos.”
Tote Bid
In 2009, he spearheaded a private equity bid to buy The ToteThe Tote
The Tote, formerly the Horserace Totalisator Board, is a British bookmaker with head offices in Wigan. It was owned from its formation in 1928 by the UK Government but was sold to Betfred in July 2011. Under the brand totesport the Tote has 514 high street betting shops, outlets on Britain's 60...
as part of the government's privatisation process. The bid was made through an investment vehicle called Sports Investment Partners, with which his son Michael is also involved. The bid was one of five that successfully passed the first round of the process in January 2011.