Roger De Haan
Encyclopedia
Roger Michael De Haan CBE
, DL
was born in 1948 in Northampton and is the son of the late Sidney De Haan
, who created the Saga
group of companies, mostly famous for selling holidays to the over 50s market. Roger took over Saga in 1984 when his father retired
and then ran the company with his brother for a further twenty years, launching Saga-branded radio stations to accompany the group’s holidays and financial services. He choose to leave the business in 2004, selling the entire Saga Group (which included insurance and holiday businesses) to a management buyout
for £1.35 billion, although he continued to run some of the radio stations himself. In that year he bought Folkestone
Harbour for £11 million.
He also established The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust in 1978, which offers financial support to a variety of charities and community organisations.
In 2003/2004 he awarded an Honorary Fellowship of Canterbury Christ Church University
.
Roger De Haan received the CBE
for services to business, education and charity in 2004 and regularly appears in the Sunday Times' 'rich list
'. He closed down PrimeTime Radio
and Saga Radio (Digital)
, his two DAB
radio stations, in 2006.
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...
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
was born in 1948 in Northampton and is the son of the late Sidney De Haan
Sidney De Haan
Sidney Isaac De Haan, OBE was the founder of Saga, an internationally known group of companies providing a wide range of services for people aged 50 and over.- Early life :...
, who created the Saga
Saga Group
Saga is a British company focused on serving the needs of those aged 50 and over. It has 2.7 million customers. The company has five call centres. All are in the UK, three in Folkestone, Kent at Middelburg Square, Enbrook Park and Cheriton Park; the fourth at the Eurokent Business park in...
group of companies, mostly famous for selling holidays to the over 50s market. Roger took over Saga in 1984 when his father retired
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
and then ran the company with his brother for a further twenty years, launching Saga-branded radio stations to accompany the group’s holidays and financial services. He choose to leave the business in 2004, selling the entire Saga Group (which included insurance and holiday businesses) to a management buyout
Management buyout
A management buyout is a form of acquisition where a company's existing managers acquire a large part or all of the company.- Overview :Management buyouts are similar in all major legal aspects to any other acquisition of a company...
for £1.35 billion, although he continued to run some of the radio stations himself. In that year he bought Folkestone
Folkestone
Folkestone is the principal town in the Shepway District of Kent, England. Its original site was in a valley in the sea cliffs and it developed through fishing and its closeness to the Continent as a landing place and trading port. The coming of the railways, the building of a ferry port, and its...
Harbour for £11 million.
He also established The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust in 1978, which offers financial support to a variety of charities and community organisations.
In 2003/2004 he awarded an Honorary Fellowship of Canterbury Christ Church University
Canterbury Christ Church University
Canterbury Christ Church University is a university in Canterbury, Kent, England. Founded as a Church of England college for teaching training it has grown to full university status and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2012. The focus of its work is in the education of people going into...
.
Roger De Haan received the CBE
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...
for services to business, education and charity in 2004 and regularly appears in the Sunday Times' 'rich list
Sunday Times Rich List 2005
The Sunday Times Rich List 2005 was published in April 2005.Since 1989 the UK national Sunday newspaper The Sunday Times has published an annual magazine supplement to the newspaper called the Sunday Times Rich List...
'. He closed down PrimeTime Radio
PrimeTime Radio
PrimeTime Radio was a national UK radio station. It was once part of although it became independent in 2004. It operated as a sister station to Saga Digital radio. The line up featured a variety of presenters including David Hamilton, Don Durbridge, David Allan, Dave Cash, Tony Myatt and Sheila...
and Saga Radio (Digital)
Saga DAB radio
Saga DAB radio was a UK digital DAB radio station, supported by Saga. The line up featured a variety of presenters including David Hamilton, Don Durbridge, David Allan, Jenny Hanley and Tony Myatt. Music played on the station was easy and melodic from the previous six decades...
, his two DAB
Digital audio broadcasting
Digital Audio Broadcasting is a digital radio technology for broadcasting radio stations, used in several countries, particularly in Europe. As of 2006, approximately 1,000 stations worldwide broadcast in the DAB format....
radio stations, in 2006.
External links
- Independent - Announcement of retirement from Saga (November 2003).
- Interview with the Sandgate News (December 2005).
- Marketing Week ‘most influential business personality in the South of England’ (July 2005)
- Telegraph - Interview with Clive Aslet (July 2007)
- Folkestone Seafront Development
- Folkestone Harbour Company