David Simon, Baron Simon of Highbury
Encyclopedia
David Alec Gwyn Simon, Baron Simon of Highbury CBE
(born 24 July 1939) is a British
businessman.
He graduated from the University of Cambridge
in 1961 and joined British Petroleum
as a management trainee, became chief executive of BP Oil International in 1982, managing director of BP in 1986, chief executive of BP in 1992 and chairman from 1995 to 1997.
In the early years of his career he spent some time at the elite business school INSEAD
. He became Advisor to Unilever
and was Chairman of the Belgo-British Conference
in 2004.
When Labour
won the 1997 elections
, he was appointed Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe. Simon had been an industrialist for many years.
Simon was invested as a Commander
of the Order of the British Empire
in 1991. He was created a life peer
as Baron Simon of Highbury, of Canonbury in the London Borough of Islington
on 16 May 1997, having been knighted two years before.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 24 July 1939) is a British
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.
He graduated from the University of 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...
in 1961 and joined British Petroleum
BP
BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
as a management trainee, became chief executive of BP Oil International in 1982, managing director of BP in 1986, chief executive of BP in 1992 and chairman from 1995 to 1997.
In the early years of his career he spent some time at the elite business school INSEAD
INSEAD
INSEAD is an international graduate business school and research institution. It has campuses in Europe , Asia , and the Middle East , as well as a research center in Israel...
. He became Advisor to Unilever
Unilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
and was Chairman of the Belgo-British Conference
Belgo-British Conference
The Belgo-British Conference is an annual conference each October or November organised by the British Council and the Belgian EGMONT - Royal Institute for International Relations , the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Belgian Federal Public Service of Foreign Affairs...
in 2004.
When Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
won the 1997 elections
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
, he was appointed Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe. Simon had been an industrialist for many years.
Simon was invested as a Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1991. 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 Simon of Highbury, of Canonbury in the London Borough of Islington
London Borough of Islington
The London Borough of Islington is a London borough in Inner London. It was formed in 1965 by merging the former metropolitan boroughs of Islington and Finsbury. The borough contains two Westminster parliamentary constituencies, Islington North and Islington South & Finsbury...
on 16 May 1997, having been knighted two years before.