Norman Blackwell, Baron Blackwell
Encyclopedia
Norman Roy Blackwell, Baron Blackwell (born 29 July 1952) is a British
businessman and politician.
The son of Albert and Frances Blackwell, he was educated first at Latymer Upper School
, and then at The Royal Academy of Music
in London
and graduated from Trinity College
at Cambridge University with a Master of Arts
in Natural Sciences
in 1973. He then went on to Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
where he graduated with a Master of Business Administration
in 1975, and then with a Doctor of Philosophy
in 1976.
Norman Blackwell was a partner with McKinsey and Company between 1978 and 1994. Having already been Special Adviser
in 1986 and 1987, he became Head of the Prime Minister's Policy Unit
in 1995, a post he held until 1997. From 1997 to 2000 he was Director of Group Development at National Westminster Bank
. He was a Director of Dixons Group from 2000 to 2003 and has been a Director of Standard Life
since 2003. He is currently chairman of Interserve
Plc
On 2 August 1997, he was created a life peer
as Baron Blackwell of Woodcote in the County of Surrey
. He sits in the House of Lords
for the Conservatives
.
He is also chairman of the Centre For Policy Studies
He married Brenda Clucas in 1974 and they have three sons and two daughters: Jane, Simon, Sarah, Richard and William Blackwell.
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 and politician.
The son of Albert and Frances Blackwell, he was educated first at Latymer Upper School
Latymer Upper School
Latymer Upper School, founded by Edward Latymer in 1624, is a selective independent school in Hammersmith, West London, England, lying between King Street and the Thames. It is a day school for 1,130 pupils – boys and girls aged 11–18; there is also the Latymer Preparatory School for boys and girls...
, and then at The Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and graduated from Trinity College
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
at Cambridge University with a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
in Natural Sciences
Natural Sciences (Cambridge)
The Natural Sciences Tripos is one of the several courses which form the University of Cambridge system of undergraduate teaching...
in 1973. He then went on to Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
where he graduated with a Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
in 1975, and then with a Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1976.
Norman Blackwell was a partner with McKinsey and Company between 1978 and 1994. Having already been Special Adviser
Special adviser
Special adviser may refer to:*Special advisers *Special advisers *Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation*United Nations Special Advisers, see Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations...
in 1986 and 1987, he became Head of the Prime Minister's Policy Unit
Number 10 Policy Unit
The Number 10 Policy Unit is a body of policymakers in 10 Downing Street in the British government. Originally set up to support Harold Wilson in 1974, it has gone through a series of guises to suit the needs of successive Prime Ministers, staffed variously by political advisers, civil servants or...
in 1995, a post he held until 1997. From 1997 to 2000 he was Director of Group Development at National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank Plc, commonly known as NatWest, is the largest retail and commercial bank in the United Kingdom and has been part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc since 2000. The Royal Bank of Scotland Group is ranked as the second largest bank in the world by assets...
. He was a Director of Dixons Group from 2000 to 2003 and has been a Director of Standard Life
Standard Life
Standard Life plc is a long term savings and investment business, with headquarters in Edinburgh and operations across the globe. It has 1.5 million shareholders in more than 50 countries and over 6 million customers.-History:...
since 2003. He is currently chairman of Interserve
Interserve
Interserve plc is an international support services and construction company based in the UK, with revenue of £1.9 billion and a workforce of 50,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Reading, Berkshire and is listed on the London Stock Exchange...
Plc
Public limited company
A public limited company is a limited liability company that sells shares to the public in United Kingdom company law, in the Republic of Ireland and Commonwealth jurisdictions....
On 2 August 1997, he was created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Blackwell of Woodcote in the County of Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. He sits in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
for the Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
.
He is also chairman of the Centre For Policy Studies
Centre for Policy Studies
The Centre for Policy Studies is a British right wing policy think tank whose goal is to promote coherent and practical public policy, to roll back the state, reform public services, support communities, and challenge threats to Britain’s independence...
He married Brenda Clucas in 1974 and they have three sons and two daughters: Jane, Simon, Sarah, Richard and William Blackwell.