Stanley Kalms, Baron Kalms
Encyclopedia
Harold Stanley Kalms, Baron Kalms, Kt, (born 21 November 1931) is the life president and former chairman of DSG International plc (formerly Dixons Group). DSG owns Dixons.com
, Currys
, The Link
and PC World
outlets. He spent his entire career from 1948 working for Dixons, which was founded by his father Charles Kalms
in 1937.
in Bradford, West Yorkshire (where the state of the art theatre complex is named in his honour), a Director of Business for Sterling, and a Director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
Lord Kalms is also involved in many private charitable activities including the setting up of the Stanley Kalms Foundation in London and the Stanley Kalms Readership in Business Ethics and Strategic Management at University of North London
. He is also involved in the King's Hospital ISLET Diabetes Research Programme.
Lord Kalms has close connections to the University of Buckingham
. He received an honorary degree from Buckingham and Chris Woodhead
is the Sir Stanley Kalms Professor of Education.
Lord Kalms has written in the press on the subjects of European Monetary Union (EMU), and on Corporate Governance
; and a book - A Time to Change - a review of the activities of the United Synagogue
(1996).
He received his knighthood
in the 1996 New Years Honours for his services to the electrical retailing industry and made a life peer as Baron Kalms, of Edgware
in the London Borough of Barnet
in 2004.
Lord Kalms was treasurer of the Conservative Party
, 2001-3. Like many in the party, he opposes the euro
. He's a member of Conservative Friends of Israel
. Lord Kalms attacked William Hague
for his position on the Israel attack in Lebanon
, calling him an "ignorant armchair critic" and that remarks were "downright dangerous".
He was the Director of the Centre for Policy Studies
(CPS) think tank
from 1991-2001.
Lord Kalms is a member of the Carlton Club
.
Dixons
Dixons is an online retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is owned by Dixons Retail plc.With its origins in a photographic shop opened by Charles Kalms, the chain had a store in most towns and cities across the UK and Ireland...
, Currys
Currys
Currys is an electrical retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland and is owned by Dixons Retail plc. It specialises in selling home electronics and household appliances, with 295 superstores and 73 high street stores...
, The Link
The Link (retailer)
The Link was an internet-based mobile phone and communications retailer in the United Kingdom. It is owned by Dixons Retail , the UK's largest consumer electronics retail group, and traded online through a dedicated retail website, which in addition to mobile phones also offered satellite...
and PC World
PC World (retailer)
PC World is OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT one of the WHER MA MEMORY STICK ?!?!??! United Kingdom's largest chains of mass-market computer superstores. It is part of Dixons Retail plc. PC World operates under the brand name PC City in Spain, Italy and Sweden....
outlets. He spent his entire career from 1948 working for Dixons, which was founded by his father Charles Kalms
Charles Kalms
Charles Kalms was a British retailer and founder of the Dixons chains that expanded to become the UK's largest electrical retail chain.-Career:Kalms opened the first Dixons photographic studio at 32 High Street, Southend-on-Sea...
in 1937.
Career
Lord Kalms was educated at Christ's College, Finchley. He joined Dixons in 1948 at the age of 16 and over the years grew the company from a one-store family business into Europe's leading specialist electrical retailer. Stanley Kalms was appointed Chairman of the Dixons Group plc in 1971. He is also a Governor of Dixons City AcademyDixons City Academy
Dixons City Academy is an Academy in Bradford, West Yorkshire. The school was originally founded in 1990 as Dixons City Technology College which focused on a specialism of Design & Technology and Product Design. In 2005 the school converted into an Academy and in doing so changed its name to Dixons...
in Bradford, West Yorkshire (where the state of the art theatre complex is named in his honour), a Director of Business for Sterling, and a Director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
Lord Kalms is also involved in many private charitable activities including the setting up of the Stanley Kalms Foundation in London and the Stanley Kalms Readership in Business Ethics and Strategic Management at University of North London
University of North London
The University of North London was a university in the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2002. On 1 August 2002, it merged with London Guildhall University to form London Metropolitan University. The former University of North London premises now form the new university's north campus, situated on...
. He is also involved in the King's Hospital ISLET Diabetes Research Programme.
Lord Kalms has close connections to the University of Buckingham
University of Buckingham
The University of Buckingham is an independent, non-sectarian, research and teaching university located in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Great Ouse. It was originally founded as Buckingham University College in the 1970s and received its Royal Charter from the...
. He received an honorary degree from Buckingham and Chris Woodhead
Chris Woodhead
Sir Christopher Anthony Woodhead was Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England from 1994 until 2000 and is one of the most controversial figures in debates on the direction of English education policy...
is the Sir Stanley Kalms Professor of Education.
Lord Kalms has written in the press on the subjects of European Monetary Union (EMU), and on Corporate Governance
Corporate governance
Corporate governance is a number of processes, customs, policies, laws, and institutions which have impact on the way a company is controlled...
; and a book - A Time to Change - a review of the activities of the United Synagogue
United Synagogue
United Synagogue is an organisation of London Jews that was founded with the sanction of an Act of Parliament, in 1870. , it remains the largest religious grouping within the British Jewish community and indeed in Europe, covering 62 Orthodox Jewish communities...
(1996).
He received his knighthood
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in the 1996 New Years Honours for his services to the electrical retailing industry and made a life peer as Baron Kalms, of Edgware
Edgware
Edgware is an area in London, situated north-northwest of Charing Cross. It forms part of both the London Borough of Barnet and the London Borough of Harrow. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
in the London Borough of Barnet
London Borough of Barnet
The London Borough of Barnet is a London borough in North London and forms part of Outer London. It has a population of 331,500 and covers . It borders Hertfordshire to the north and five other London boroughs: Harrow and Brent to the west, Camden and Haringey to the south-east and Enfield to the...
in 2004.
Lord Kalms was treasurer 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...
, 2001-3. Like many in the party, he opposes the euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
. He's a member of Conservative Friends of Israel
Conservative Friends of Israel
Conservative Friends of Israel, abbreviated to CFI, is a British parliamentary group affiliated to the Conservative Party and dedicated to strengthening business, cultural and political ties between the United Kingdom and Israel. CFI is an unincorporated associationIt was founded by the late...
. Lord Kalms attacked William Hague
William Hague
William Jefferson Hague is the British Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State. He served as Leader of the Conservative Party from June 1997 to September 2001...
for his position on the Israel attack in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, calling him an "ignorant armchair critic" and that remarks were "downright dangerous".
He was the Director of the Centre for Policy Studies
Centre for Policy Studies
The Centre for Policy Studies is a British right wing policy think tank whose goal is to promote coherent and practical public policy, to roll back the state, reform public services, support communities, and challenge threats to Britain’s independence...
(CPS) think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
from 1991-2001.
Lord Kalms is a member of the Carlton Club
Carlton Club
The Carlton Club is a gentlemen's club in London which describes itself as the "oldest, most elite, and most important of all Conservative clubs." Membership of the club is by nomination and election only.-History:...
.
Further reading
- KALMS, Sir (Harold) Stanley International Who's Who. accessed September 4, 2006.