Jeremy Darroch

{{Short description|English businessman, current Executive chairman of Sky Group}}

{{Infobox person

| honorific-prefix = Sir

| name = Jeremy Darroch

| image = Web Summit 2015 - Dublin, Ireland - 22381983428.jpg

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name = David Jeremy Darroch

| birth_date = {{Birth-date and age|18 July 1962}}

| birth_place = Alnwick, Northumberland, England

| education = Dukes Grammar School

| alma_mater = University of Hull

| spouse = Rachel Darroch

| children = 3

| other_names =

| known_for =

| occupation = Businessman

| title = Executive chairman, Sky Group

| term = December 2021–present; Chair of the Board, Reckitt 2024-present

}}

Sir David Jeremy Darroch (born 18 July 1962) is an English businessman who was the CEO of Sky from December 2007 until becoming executive chairman in January 2021.

Early life

He was born and brought up in Alnwick, Northumberland, the son of a tax inspector, and the grandson of a miner.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/from-shampoo-to-settop-boxes-the-rise-of-jeremy-darroch-8537105.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220608/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/from-shampoo-to-settop-boxes-the-rise-of-jeremy-darroch-8537105.html |archive-date=8 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=From shampoo to set-top boxes: the rise of Jeremy Darroch|website=Independent.co.uk |date=16 March 2013|publisher=|accessdate=3 January 2018}} He attended Dukes Grammar School (a boys-only grammar school which became Dukes Middle School in 1977) in Alnwick.{{cite web|url=https://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/news/sky-s-the-limit-for-jeremy-1-1404477|title=Sky's the limit for Jeremy|website=www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk|accessdate=3 January 2018}}

He has a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Hull.{{cite web|url=https://culturenet.co.uk/events/inspired-in-hull-in-conversation-with-jeremy-darroch-group-ceo-of-sky|title=Inspired in Hull: In conversation with Jeremy Darroch, Group CEO of Sky - CultureNet|website=culturenet.co.uk|accessdate=3 January 2018}}

Career

He worked for Procter & Gamble for twelve years from 1988, eventually becoming European finance director of its healthcare business.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}} He then worked for DSG Dixons Group under the aegis of Ian Livingston, before replacing him in the role of FD.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

=Sky=

He joined Sky (previously known as Sky plc before Comcast's takeover in 2018, and British Sky Broadcasting before the European acquisitions in 2014) in August 2004 as Chief Financial Officer. He became Chief Executive of Sky in December 2007{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/markets/stocks|title=Stocks|website=Bloomberg.com|accessdate=3 January 2018}} and sold the organisation to Comcast in 2018. In 2017, Darroch was the UK's 4th highest earning CEO, receiving a salary of £16.3 million.{{Cite web|url=https://www.investopedia.com/insights/highest-paid-uk-ceos/|title=Highest-Paid CEOs in the UK|last=|first=|date=3 November 2019|website=Investopedia|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=6 March 2020}}

In January 2021, it was announced that Darroch would be standing down as CEO, and will become executive chairman of Sky, remaining in post throughout 2021, and will then be an advisor to the company.{{cite news |last1=King |first1=Ian |title=Sky's chief executive Jeremy Darroch to step down |url=https://news.sky.com/story/skys-chief-executive-jeremy-darroch-to-step-down-12180633 |access-date=6 January 2021 |work=Sky News |date=6 January 2021}} He will be succeeded as CEO by Dana Strong.

He was knighted in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to business, charity and sustainability.{{London Gazette|issue=64082|supp=y|page=B2|date=17 June 2023}}

=Later Career=

Darroch became a Non-Executive Director for Reckitt plc in November 2022, becoming Chair of the Board in May 2024.

Darroch joined the board of The Walt Disney Company as a Director in 2024.

Personal life

In July 2010 he received an honorary degree from the University of Hull.{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/universityofhull/4789404883/|title=David Jeremy Darroch receives Honorary degree from University of Hull 13-07-10|date=13 July 2010 |publisher=|accessdate=3 January 2018}} He is on the board of the Youth Sport Trust and the Council for Industry and Higher Education.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}