Austin Pearce

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}

Sir Austin "William" Pearce {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}} (1 September 1921 – 21 March 2004)“Who was Who” 1897-2007 London, A & C Black, 2007 {{ISBN|978-0-19-954087-7}}{{cite web |title=Obituary: Sir Austin Pearce |date=2004-04-20 |website=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418234059/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/apr/20/guardianobituaries.rogercowe |archive-date=2019-04-18 |url-status=live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/apr/20/guardianobituaries.rogercowe}} was the chairman of British Aerospace from 1980 until 1987. He was educated at Devonport High School for Boys, Plymouth and the University of Birmingham.Debrett's People of Today: Ed Ellis, P 1992, London, Debrett's) {{ISBN|1-870520-09-2}}

In 1942 he left university with a degree in Chemical Engineering and joined the Petroleum Warfare Department working on incendiary devices at the same time as his doctorate.

He began his industrial career with the Agwi Petroleum Corporartion.[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/sir-austin-pearce-549768.html Independent obituary]{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} When this became part of Esso he rose rapidly, eventually becoming managing director in 1968.The Times, Friday, 31 January 1969; p. 23; Issue 57473; col E Oilmen fight ports plan In retirement he continued to hold important posts such as the Prochancellorship of the University of Surrey.{{Cite web |url=http://portal.surrey.ac.uk/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/MARKETING/COMMUNICATIONS/NEWS/MEDIA/JUNE/26%20APRIL04.DOC |title=University of Surrey announcement |access-date=2008-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716180904/http://portal.surrey.ac.uk/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/MARKETING/COMMUNICATIONS/NEWS/MEDIA/JUNE/26%20APRIL04.DOC |archive-date=2011-07-16 |url-status=dead }}