Niall FitzGerald
Encyclopedia
Niall FitzGerald, KBE
(born 13 September 1945 in County Sligo) is an Irish businessman. FitzGerald grew up in Limerick
, Ireland
and was educated at St Munchin's College in Limerick. He graduated with a degree in Commerce from University College Dublin
. Until the end of May 2011, FitzGerald was the Deputy Chairman of Thomson Reuters since April 2008.
FitzGerald spent over 30 years of his career with Unilever
, in a variety of commercial and financial jobs in several countries, including Ireland, the Netherlands, South Africa, the US and the UK. In the early 1980s he became CEO of Unilever's foods business in South Africa and thereafter returned to London as Unilever Group Treasurer.
In 1987, he joined the Boards of Unilever PLC and Unilever NV, serving as Finance Director, Foods Director and Detergents Director. FitzGerald was later appointed as Chairman and CEO in 1996, and continued this role until September 2004.
In 2003, FitzGerald joined the Board of Reuters as a non-executive director, and became Chairman of Reuters in October 2004. In 2006, he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the British Museum. In April 2008, he became the Deputy co-Chairman of Thomson Reuters
following the creation of the new company. In November 2008, FitzGerald was appointed Chairman of Hakluyt & Company
. He also co-chairs the Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF).
FitzGerald is a member of the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum
and also a Trustee of the Leverhulme Trust
. FitzGerald is also a member of the Advisory Board of Spencer Stuart and a Senior Adviser to Allen & Co.
Chairman of
Co-Chairman of
Non-executive director of
President of
He was also a member of
in 2002, and holds a number of Honorary Doctorates from American, British and Irish universities.
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 13 September 1945 in County Sligo) is an Irish businessman. FitzGerald grew up in Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and was educated at St Munchin's College in Limerick. He graduated with a degree in Commerce from University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
. Until the end of May 2011, FitzGerald was the Deputy Chairman of Thomson Reuters since April 2008.
FitzGerald spent over 30 years of his career with 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....
, in a variety of commercial and financial jobs in several countries, including Ireland, the Netherlands, South Africa, the US and the UK. In the early 1980s he became CEO of Unilever's foods business in South Africa and thereafter returned to London as Unilever Group Treasurer.
In 1987, he joined the Boards of Unilever PLC and Unilever NV, serving as Finance Director, Foods Director and Detergents Director. FitzGerald was later appointed as Chairman and CEO in 1996, and continued this role until September 2004.
In 2003, FitzGerald joined the Board of Reuters as a non-executive director, and became Chairman of Reuters in October 2004. In 2006, he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the British Museum. In April 2008, he became the Deputy co-Chairman of Thomson Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
following the creation of the new company. In November 2008, FitzGerald was appointed Chairman of Hakluyt & Company
Hakluyt & Company
Hakluyt & Company is a British strategic intelligence and advisory firm. The company was founded in 1995 by Christopher James and Mike Reynolds. James retired in mid-2006, and was replaced as managing director by Keith Craig...
. He also co-chairs the Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF).
FitzGerald is a member of the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum
World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland....
and also a Trustee of the Leverhulme Trust
Leverhulme Trust
The Leverhulme Trust was established in 1925 under the will of the First Viscount Leverhulme, William Hesketh Lever, with the instruction that its resources should be used to support "scholarships for the purposes of research and education."...
. FitzGerald is also a member of the Advisory Board of Spencer Stuart and a Senior Adviser to Allen & Co.
Board Mandates
FitzGerald has been appointed multiple roles during his career, including:Chairman of
- The Nelson Mandela Legacy Trust (UK) (2004–2008)
- The International Business Council of the World Economic Forum (2006–2008)
- The Conference Board (2003–2005)
- CBI Europe Committee
Co-Chairman of
- Transatlantic Business Dialogue (TABD) (2004–2005)
- Investment Climate Facility for Africa (2006–2010)
Non-executive director of
- Merck (2000–2003)
- Ericsson (2000–2002)
- Bank of Ireland (1990–1999)
- Prudential Corporation (1992–1999)
President of
- The Advertising Association (2000–2005)
He was also a member of
- International Investment Advisory Council of South Africa
- Advisory Board of Tsinghua University
- International Advisory Board of the Council on Foreign Relations
- Kok Commission on the Lisbon Agenda
- Accounting Standards Review Committee
- International Policy Council for Agriculture and Trade
Awards
FitzGerald was created an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British EmpireOrder 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 2002, and holds a number of Honorary Doctorates from American, British and Irish universities.