Richard Cousins
Encyclopedia
Richard John Cousins is the chief executive officer
of the world's largest foodservice
company, the Compass Group
, which is based in Chertsey
, Surrey
.
.
He did a BSc
in Mathematics at the University of Sheffield
in 1980. At Lancaster University Management School
, he gained an MSc in Operational Research.
, again in operational research
. He became corporate planning manager for Newey & Eyre (now part of Hagemeyer UK
), one of its subsidiaries and an electrical components firm. In 1990 he moved to BPB plc
, the British firm which is the world's largest manufacturer of plasterboard
and now owned by the French company Saint-Gobain
, working in planning. From 1996-8, he was managing director of its Abertay Paper Sacks company at Bucksburn
in Aberdeen. He became a group financial controller and president of the Canadian section of the business in 1998 before becoming chief executive in 2000. Under his leadership, he took the company into the FTSE 100
, which transformed its market capitalization
from £1bn to around £4bn. He sold BPB to Saint-Gobain for £3.9bn in December 2005, after a hostile takeover.
He joined Compass in May 2006 as Group Chief Executive, taking over from Mike Bailey.
On 12 April 2011 he gave the famous Arena Savoy Lecture at London's Savoy Hotel which raised eyebrows within the industry as he normally keeps a low profile.
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the world's largest foodservice
Foodservice
Food Service or catering industry defines those businesses, institutions, and companies responsible for any meal prepared outside the home...
company, the Compass Group
Compass Group
Compass Group plc is a global contract foodservice and support services company headquartered near London, United Kingdom. It is the largest contract foodservice company in the world and has operations in over 50 countries...
, which is based in Chertsey
Chertsey
Chertsey is a town in Surrey, England, on the River Thames and its tributary rivers such as the River Bourne. It can be accessed by road from junction 11 of the M25 London orbital motorway. It shares borders with Staines, Laleham, Shepperton, Addlestone, Woking, Thorpe and Egham...
, 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...
.
Early life
He grew up in BracknellBracknell
Bracknell is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Bracknell Forest in Berkshire, England. It lies to the south-east of Reading, southwest of Windsor and west of central London...
.
He did a BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Mathematics at the University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
in 1980. At Lancaster University Management School
Lancaster University Management School
Lancaster University Management School in Lancaster, England, is the business school of Lancaster University. The School was established in 1964. A full range of subjects are taught, ranging from undergraduate degrees to postgraduate degrees including MBAs, PhDs and post-experience executive...
, he gained an MSc in Operational Research.
Career
He began in the group operational research depart of Cadbury-Schweppes in 1981, being involved in market research and investment projects. In 1984 he joined BTR IndustriesBTR Industries
BTR plc was a British industrial conglomerate, which merged with Siebe in 1999 to form BTR Siebe plc, later renamed Invensys. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.-History:...
, again in operational research
Operations research
Operations research is an interdisciplinary mathematical science that focuses on the effective use of technology by organizations...
. He became corporate planning manager for Newey & Eyre (now part of Hagemeyer UK
Hagemeyer
Hagemeyer was a business-to-business distribution services group focusing on the markets for electrical materials, safety and other maintenance, repair and operations products in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific. It was based in the Netherlands but was acquired by rival Rexel in 2008, with...
), one of its subsidiaries and an electrical components firm. In 1990 he moved to BPB plc
BPB plc
BPB plc is a British building materials business: it is the world's largest manufacturer of plasterboard. It once was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index...
, the British firm which is the world's largest manufacturer of plasterboard
Drywall
Drywall, also known as plasterboard, wallboard or gypsum board is a panel made of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper...
and now owned by the French company Saint-Gobain
Saint-Gobain
Saint-Gobain S.A. is a French multinational corporation, founded in 1665 in Paris and headquartered on the outskirts of Paris at La Défense and in Courbevoie. Originally a mirror manufacturer, it now also produces a variety of construction and high-performance materials.The company has its head...
, working in planning. From 1996-8, he was managing director of its Abertay Paper Sacks company at Bucksburn
Bucksburn
Bucksburn is an area of the city of Aberdeen, Scotland, named after the stream that flows through it. Bucksburn was formerly a market village before being swallowed up by the spread of the city. It is now categorised as a "Neighbourhood" by Aberdeen City Council...
in Aberdeen. He became a group financial controller and president of the Canadian section of the business in 1998 before becoming chief executive in 2000. Under his leadership, he took the company into the FTSE 100
FTSE 100 Index
The FTSE 100 Index, also called FTSE 100, FTSE, or, informally, the footsie , is a share index of the 100 most highly capitalised UK companies listed on the London Stock Exchange....
, which transformed its market capitalization
Market capitalization
Market capitalization is a measurement of the value of the ownership interest that shareholders hold in a business enterprise. It is equal to the share price times the number of shares outstanding of a publicly traded company...
from £1bn to around £4bn. He sold BPB to Saint-Gobain for £3.9bn in December 2005, after a hostile takeover.
He joined Compass in May 2006 as Group Chief Executive, taking over from Mike Bailey.
On 12 April 2011 he gave the famous Arena Savoy Lecture at London's Savoy Hotel which raised eyebrows within the industry as he normally keeps a low profile.