Simon Wolfson
Encyclopedia
Simon Wolfson, Baron Wolfson of Aspley Guise (born 27 October 1967) is a British
businessman and currently chief executive of the clothing retailer Next and a Conservative
life peer
. He is the son of former Next chairman David Wolfson, Baron Wolfson of Sunningdale
, also a Conservative life peer.
He attended Radley College
, near Abingdon
, followed by studying law at Trinity College
, Cambridge
. Wolfson joined Next as a sales consultant in its Kensington
branch in 1991, the year his father was granted his peerage
. The following year, he was taken on as assistant to Next's chief executive, David Jones. Wolfson made his way up the ranks within the company rapidly, being appointed to the board of directors
in 1997, and culminating in his appointment as chief executive in August 2001. At the age of 33, this made him the youngest chief executive of a FTSE 100
company. He was one of the first businesspeople to predict the 2008-9 economic crisis.
He is a prominent supporter of the Conservative Party
, having donated to David Cameron
's campaign in the 2005 leadership election
and co-chaired the party's Economic Competitiveness policy review. He was named by The Daily Telegraph
as the 37th-most important British conservative in 2007. He was one of 35 signatories to an open letter calling on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, to press ahead with the coalition government's plans to reduce the public finance deficit in one term in the face of opposition. This letter resulted in a boycott campaign against Next and the businesses of the other signatories.
Wolfson is known to be publicity shy. He owns houses in London
and Leicester
, where Next is based.
On 18 June 2010, Wolfson was created Baron Wolfson of Aspley Guise, of Aspley Guise in the County of Bedfordshire, and was introduced
in the House of Lords
on 6 July 2010.
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 currently chief executive of the clothing retailer Next and a Conservative
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...
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...
. He is the son of former Next chairman David Wolfson, Baron Wolfson of Sunningdale
David Wolfson, Baron Wolfson of Sunningdale
David Wolfson, Baron Wolfson of Sunningdale is a British politician and businessman.The son of Charles and Hylda Wolfson was educated in Clifton College and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a Master of Arts in economics and law in 1956...
, also a Conservative life peer.
He attended Radley College
Radley College
Radley College , founded in 1847, is a British independent school for boys on the edge of the English village of Radley, near to the market town of Abingdon in Oxfordshire, and has become a well-established boarding school...
, near Abingdon
Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Abingdon or archaically Abingdon-on-Thames is a market town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Vale of White Horse district. Previously the county town of Berkshire, Abingdon is one of several places that claim to be Britain's oldest continuously occupied town, with...
, followed by studying law at 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...
, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. Wolfson joined Next as a sales consultant in its Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
branch in 1991, the year his father was granted his peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
. The following year, he was taken on as assistant to Next's chief executive, David Jones. Wolfson made his way up the ranks within the company rapidly, being appointed to the board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
in 1997, and culminating in his appointment as chief executive in August 2001. At the age of 33, this made him the youngest chief executive of a 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....
company. He was one of the first businesspeople to predict the 2008-9 economic crisis.
He is a prominent supporter of the Conservative Party
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...
, having donated to David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
's campaign in the 2005 leadership election
Conservative Party (UK) leadership election, 2005
The 2005 Conservative leadership election was called by party leader Michael Howard on 6 May 2005, when he announced that he would be stepping down as leader in the near future. However, he stated that he would not depart until a review of the rules for the leadership election had been conducted,...
and co-chaired the party's Economic Competitiveness policy review. He was named by The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
as the 37th-most important British conservative in 2007. He was one of 35 signatories to an open letter calling on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, to press ahead with the coalition government's plans to reduce the public finance deficit in one term in the face of opposition. This letter resulted in a boycott campaign against Next and the businesses of the other signatories.
Wolfson is known to be publicity shy. He owns houses 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 Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, where Next is based.
On 18 June 2010, Wolfson was created Baron Wolfson of Aspley Guise, of Aspley Guise in the County of Bedfordshire, and was introduced
Introduction (House of Lords)
Introduction is a ceremony in the House of Lords whereby new members are "introduced" to the existing membership. Introductions in the Lords are more elaborate than those in the House of Commons.-Origins:...
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....
on 6 July 2010.