John Timpson (businessman)
{{Short description|British businessman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = Sir
| honorific_suffix = CBE
| name = John Timpson
| image = Sir-John-Timpson-CBE-2017.jpg
| caption = Timpson in 2017
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|3|24|df=y}}
| education = Oundle School
| occupation = Chairman and owner, Timpson
| alma_mater = University of Nottingham
| spouse = {{marriage|Alexandra Dodd|1968|5 January 2016|end=d.}}
| children = 5, including Edward and James
| parents =
| relations = Kathleen Ollerenshaw (aunt)
| website =
}}
Sir William John Anthony Timpson CBE (born 24 March 1943) is a British businessman who is chairman and owner of retailer Timpson.
Early life and career
Timpson was born in 1943,{{Who's Who|title=TIMPSON, Sir (William) John (Anthony)|id=U273000|volume=2023|edition=online}} and educated at Oundle School and the University of Nottingham.{{cite web|url=https://www.timpson.co.uk/about/meet-the-timpsons |title=Meet The Timpsons by Timpson |publisher=Timpson|date=23 January 1929 |access-date=30 March 2016}} He began his professional career as a management trainee at Clarks, before moving on to become a shoe buyer for his family's business, William Timpson Ltd., in 1965. He was appointed a director of Timpson in 1968, and remained with the company after his father Anthony was ousted as chairman five years later, at which point it was acquired for £28,600,000 by United Drapery Stores.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/apr/03/john-timpson-interview|title=John Timpson, the cobbler who is showing his rivals a clean pair of heels|author=David Teather|newspaper=The Guardian|date=3 April 2009|accessdate=2023-03-09}} After leading a management buyout, Timpson was himself installed as the firm's chairman in 1985.
Timpson now has a weekly management column in The Daily Telegraph and has written several books about his management style. According to The Sunday Times Rich List in 2019, he is worth £210 million.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/sunday-times-rich-list-2019-profiles-553-599-catherine-zeta-jones-michael-douglas-rrs8bxfgz|title=Rich List 2019: profiles 553-599 featuring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas|date=12 May 2019|publisher=Times Newspapers|access-date=19 August 2019|issn=0140-0460|work=The Times}} {{subscription required}}
Politics
During the EU referendum in 2016, John Timpson gave his public support for leaving the EU and stated that it is "a risk worth taking".{{cite news|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/03/27/maverick-shoe-magnate-john-timpson-backs-brexit/|title='Maverick' shoe magnate John Timpson backs Brexit|date=26 March 2017|work= The Telegraph}} {{subscription required}}
Personal life
Timpson lives in Cheshire.{{cite web|date=15 May 2017|title=Rewards come in many ways for Manchester multi-millionaire John Timpson|url=http://ilovemanchester.com/rewards-come-in-many-ways-for-manchester-multi-millionaire-john-timpson|access-date=5 May 2021|work=I Love Manchester|first=Ray|last=King}}{{cite news|first=Caroline|last=Scott|title=A Life in the Day: John Timpson, the shoe-repair businessman|work=The Times|date=28 January 2018|url=https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/article/a-life-in-the-day-john-timpson-the-shoe-repair-businessman-cz8lh2thk|access-date=5 May 2021|issn=0140-0460}}{{subscription required}} Together with his wife Alex, whom he married in 1968 and who died in 2016, he had three children, adopted two more, and fostered another 90.{{cite web|url=http://stasaph.churchinwales.org.uk/life/diocesan-conference-2015/conference/a-look-back-on-2013/keynote-speaker-john-timpson-cbe/|title=Keynote Speaker – John Timpson CBE|publisher=Diocese of St Asaph|date=21 October 2015|access-date=30 March 2016|archive-date=29 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329060207/http://stasaph.churchinwales.org.uk/life/diocesan-conference-2015/conference/a-look-back-on-2013/keynote-speaker-john-timpson-cbe/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/12122844/Alex-Timpson-childrens-campaigner-obituary.html |title=Alex Timpson, children's campaigner - obituary |date=26 January 2016|work=The Telegraph |access-date=30 March 2016}}{{subscription required}}
His son James Timpson, Baron Timpson has been the CEO of Timpson Group since 2002. In July 2024, James Timpson was appointed Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation in the Starmer ministry by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
His youngest birth son, Edward Timpson, was until the 2024 General Election the Conservative MP for Eddisbury in Cheshire, and was previously MP for Crewe and Nantwich, also in Cheshire.
Timpson is an avid Manchester City supporter.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/4493772/Business-Profile-Timpson-the-eccentric-cobbler.html|title=Business Profile: Timpson, the eccentric cobbler|date=30 March 2003|work=The Telegraph|access-date=10 September 2016}}
He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2004 Birthday Honours for services to the retail sector,United Kingdom list: {{London Gazette |issue=57315 |supp=y |pages=8 |date=11 June 2004}} and was knighted in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to business and fostering.{{London Gazette|issue=61962|supp=y|page=B2|date=17 June 2017}}{{cite news|first=James|last=Quinn |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/06/16/knighthood-john-timpson-cobbler-fostered-90-childen/ |title=Knighthood for John Timpson, the cobbler who fostered 90 children {{sic|hide=y}} |date=7 June 2017|work=The Telegraph|access-date=17 June 2017}}{{subscription required}}
Timpson's aunt, Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw, who died in 2014 aged 101, was a former Lord Mayor of Manchester, a Freeman of the City and a mathematician, and has been described as "one of the most distinguished Mancunians of her era".
Publications
- High Street Heroes: The Story of British Retail in 50 People, Icon Books (2015)
- Ask John: Straight-talking, common sense from the front line of management; Paperback, Icon Books (2014)
- Upside Down Management, John Wiley & Sons (2010)
- How to Ride a Giraffe, Caspian Publishing (2008)
- Dear James: Secrets of Success from a Management Maverick, Caspian Publishing (2000)
References
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Category:British chief executives
Category:People educated at Oundle School
Category:Alumni of the University of Nottingham