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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
{{Undisclosed paid|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = [[Sir]]
| honorific_prefix = [[Sir]]
| name = Nigel Wilson
| name = Nigel Wilson
| image = Nigel Wilson, Chief Executive of Legal & General Group Plc.jpg
| image = Nigel Wilson, businessman (cropped).jpg
| caption =
| caption =
| birth_name = Nigel David Wilson
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1956|11|17}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|11|17|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| birth_place = [[Norwich]], England
| death_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
| education = {{ubl|[[University of Essex]]|[[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]}}
| nationality = British
| education = [[University of Essex]]<br> [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]
| occupation = Businessman
| occupation = Businessman
| years_active = 1977–present
| years_active = 1977–present
| title = Group CEO, [[Legal & General]]
| title = Chairman, [[Canary Wharf Group]]
| term = 2012–2023
| term =
| predecessor = Tim Breedon
| predecessor =
| successor =
| successor = [[António Simões (executive)|António Simões]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-06-15/legal-general-names-antonio-simoes-as-chief-executive-officer|title=Legal & General Names Antonio Simoes as Chief Executive Officer |publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=30 June 2023}}</ref>
| children = 5 daughters
| children = 5
}}
}}

{{Upe|date=December 2023}}
'''Sir Nigel David Wilson''' (born 17 November 1956<ref name=":0" />) is a British businessman. He was the group chief executive of [[Legal & General]] from 2012 to 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-06-15/legal-general-names-antonio-simoes-as-chief-executive-officer|title=Legal & General Names Antonio Simoes as Chief Executive Officer |publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=30 June 2023}}</ref> In 2024, he joined the [[Canary Wharf Group]] as chairman.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-06-19/nigel-wilson-replaces-iacobescu-as-canary-wharf-group-chairman|title=Nigel Wilson Replaces Iacobescu as Canary Wharf Group Chairman|website=Bloomberg|first=Jack|last=Sidders|date=19 June 2024|accessdate=22 July 2024}}</ref>
'''Sir Nigel David Wilson''' (born 17 November 1956) is a British businessman. He was the group chief executive (Group CEO) of [[Legal & General]], a British multinational financial services company.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Wilson earned a degree in economics from the [[University of Essex]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/there-is-so-much-money-around-we-need-to-spend-it-on-our-cities-bk2b2gp8r|title=There is so much money around — we need to spend it on our cities|last=Shah|first=Oliver|date=2016-07-03|work=The Sunday Times|access-date=2018-01-04|issn=0956-1382}}</ref> and a PhD from the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]].<ref name=":0" />
Wilson was born in [[Norwich]] and grew up in [[Darlington]]. He attended [[Ferryhill Business and Enterprise College|Ferryhill Grammar School]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/more/news/university-news/2024/graduation-2024-sir-nigel-wilson/|title=Graduation 2024: Sir Nigel Wilson honoured by the University of Sunderland|website=University of Sunderland|date=16 July 2024|accessdate=22 July 2024}}</ref> He went on to earn a degree in economics from the [[University of Essex]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/there-is-so-much-money-around-we-need-to-spend-it-on-our-cities-bk2b2gp8r|title=There is so much money around — we need to spend it on our cities|last=Shah|first=Oliver|date=2016-07-03|work=The Sunday Times|access-date=2018-01-04|issn=0956-1382}}</ref> and a PhD from the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]].<ref name=":0" />


==Career==
==Career==
He was CEO of Legal & General Group from 30 June 2012 to 31 December 2023, having joined as group chief financial officer on 1 September 2009.<ref name="businessweek2">{{cite web|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=974266&ticker=LGEN:LN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203040155/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=974266&ticker=LGEN:LN|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 December 2013|title=Nigel D. Wilson : Executive Profile|date=|publisher=BusinessWeek|access-date=20 November 2012}}</ref>
Wilson was the chief executive of Legal & General Group from 30 June 2012 to 31 December 2023, having joined as group chief financial officer on 1 September 2009.<ref name="businessweek2">{{cite web|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=974266&ticker=LGEN:LN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203040155/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=974266&ticker=LGEN:LN|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 December 2013|title=Nigel D. Wilson: Executive Profile|date=|publisher=BusinessWeek|access-date=20 November 2012}}</ref> He was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in the [[2022 New Year Honours]] for services to the finance industry and regional development.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=63571|supp=y|page=N2|date=1 January 2022}}</ref>


In September 2022, Wilson turned down the position of Minister for Investment in the [[Government of the United Kingdom|British government]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Swinford |first=Richard Fletcher Steven |title=City veteran Wilson snubs Truss offer of ministerial job |newspaper=[[The Times]] |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/city-veteran-wilson-snubs-truss-offer-of-ministerial-job-bhlqcjd6r |access-date=2022-09-29 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref>
He was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in the [[2022 New Year Honours]] for services to the finance industry and regional development.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=63571|supp=y|page=N2|date=1 January 2022}}</ref>


=== Media commentating ===
In September 2022, Wilson turned down the position as Minister for Investment in the [[Government of the United Kingdom|British government]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Swinford |first=Richard Fletcher Steven |title=City veteran Wilson snubs Truss offer of ministerial job |newspaper=[[The Times]] |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/city-veteran-wilson-snubs-truss-offer-of-ministerial-job-bhlqcjd6r |access-date=2022-09-29 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref>
While he was chief executive of Legal & General, Wilson was often quoted in the media on a range of subjects, usually commenting about government policies which he perceived to be anti-business. His outspoken views led ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' to describe him as ‘Marmite’.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nigel-wilson-l-gs-marmite-man-proves-an-acquired-taste-02f59k6hq|title=Nigel Wilson, L&G's marmite man, proves an acquired taste. The insurer's chief executive divides the city with his direct style|last=Dunkley|first=Emma|date=2019-10-13|work=The Sunday Times}}</ref> Controversial opinions expressed by Wilson included several attempts to encourage the government to allow developers to build housing on [[Green Belt]] land.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38828477|title=Housebuilder L&G wants 'reassessment' of green belt|last=Ahmed|first=Kamal|date=2017-02-01|work=BBC News website}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-48784335|title=Oxford University plans 2,000 new homes in and around city|date=2019-06-27|work=BBC News website}}</ref>


He was also an outspoken critic of government environmental policy, commenting in relation to [[wind farm]]s, "The government is deluding itself that it is saving the world with these ugly modern windmills."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scotlandagainstspin.org/2013/08/plans-to-build-more-wind-farms-are-deluded-lg-boss-warns-the-government/|title=Plans to build more wind farms are 'deluded', L&G boss warns the government|last=Salmon|first=James|date=2013-08-10|work=Scotland Against Spin}}</ref> Wilson also claimed that Legal & General, one of the UK’s largest investors, "would not put a single penny into wind farms" (although several years later Legal & General in fact did invest circa £700m in large windfarm developments at [[Walney Wind Farm|Walney]] and [[Hornsea Wind Farm|Hornsea]]).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://group.legalandgeneral.com/zn/newsroom/press-releases/legal-general-completes-financing-on-what-is-soon-to-be-the-largest-wind-farm-in-the-world|title=Legal & General completes financing on what is soon to be the largest windfarm in the world
==Media commentator==
|date=2018-11-27|work= Legal & General press release}}</ref>
During his period as CEO of Legal & General, Wilson was often quoted in the media on a range of subjects, usually commenting on government policies which he perceived to be anti-business. His frequently outspoken views led [[The Sunday Times]] to describe him as ‘Marmite’.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nigel-wilson-l-gs-marmite-man-proves-an-acquired-taste-02f59k6hq|title=Nigel Wilson, L&G's marmite man, proves an acquired taste. The insurer's chief executive divides the city with his direct style|last=Dunkley|first=Emma|date=2019-10-13|work=The Sunday Times}}</ref> Controversial opinions expressed by Wilson included several attempts to encourage the government to allow developers to build housing on [[Green Belt]] land.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38828477|title=Housebuilder L&G wants 'reassessment' of green belt|last=Ahmed|first=Kamal|date=2017-02-01|work=BBC News website}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-48784335|title=Oxford University plans 2,000 new homes in and around city|date=2019-06-27|work=BBC News website}}</ref> He was also an outspoken critic of government environmental policy, commenting in relation to [[wind farm|wind farms]] that ‘The government is deluding itself that it is saving the world with these ugly modern windmills’.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scotlandagainstspin.org/2013/08/plans-to-build-more-wind-farms-are-deluded-lg-boss-warns-the-government/|title=Plans to build more wind farms are 'deluded', L&G boss warns the government|last=Salmon|first=James|date=2013-08-10|work=Scotland Against Spin}}</ref> Wilson went on to claim that Legal & General, one of the UK’s largest investors, ‘would not put a single penny into wind farms’ (although several years later Legal & General did in fact invest circa £700m in large windfarm developments at [[Walney Wind Farm|Walney]] and [[Hornsea Wind Farm|Hornsea]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://group.legalandgeneral.com/zn/newsroom/press-releases/legal-general-completes-financing-on-what-is-soon-to-be-the-largest-wind-farm-in-the-world|title=Legal & General completes financing on what is soon to be the largest windfarm in the world
|date=2018-11-27|work= Legal & General press release}}</ref>).


Wilson has made a number of outspoken political interventions, being described as ‘one of the highest profile supporters of Brexit in the Square Mile’.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/08/09/liz-trusss-tax-cuts-could-trigger-wave-investment-uk-says-lg/|title=Liz Truss's tax cuts could trigger a wave of investment in the UK, says L&G chief|last=Foy|first=Simon|date=2022-08-09|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/legal-and-general-ceo-skeptical-about-eu-benefits-1407318772?mod=mw_quote_news|title=L&G Chief Says UK Should Quit EU Without Better Deal|last=Samuel|first=Juliet|date=2014-08-06|work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> He also spoke in favour of [[Liz Truss]]’ controversial plans for widespread tax-cuts,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/08/09/liz-trusss-tax-cuts-could-trigger-wave-investment-uk-says-lg/|title=Liz Truss's tax cuts could trigger a wave of investment in the UK, says L&G chief|last=Foy|first=Simon|date=2022-08-09|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> plans which later played a major part in Truss's ill-fated [[September 2022 United Kingdom mini-budget|mini-budget]].
Wilson has made a number of outspoken political interventions, being described as ‘one of the highest profile supporters of Brexit in the Square Mile’.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/08/09/liz-trusss-tax-cuts-could-trigger-wave-investment-uk-says-lg/|title=Liz Truss's tax cuts could trigger a wave of investment in the UK, says L&G chief|last=Foy|first=Simon|date=2022-08-09|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/legal-and-general-ceo-skeptical-about-eu-benefits-1407318772?mod=mw_quote_news|title=L&G Chief Says UK Should Quit EU Without Better Deal|last=Samuel|first=Juliet|date=2014-08-06|work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> He also spoke in favour of [[Liz Truss]]’ controversial plans for widespread tax-cuts,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/08/09/liz-trusss-tax-cuts-could-trigger-wave-investment-uk-says-lg/|title=Liz Truss's tax cuts could trigger a wave of investment in the UK, says L&G chief|last=Foy|first=Simon|date=2022-08-09|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> plans which later played a major part in Truss' ill-fated [[September 2022 United Kingdom mini-budget|mini-budget]].


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Wilson has five daughters.<ref name="L&G bio">{{cite web|url=https://www.legalandgeneralgroup.com/people/nigel-wilson/|title=Nigel Wilson|publisher=Legal & General|date=|access-date=12 January 2020}}</ref> He has won several national masters athletics championships.<ref name="L&G bio"/>
Wilson has five daughters.<ref name="Standard 2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/l-g-sir-nigel-wilson-quits-city-b1056454.html|title=L&G begins search for new leader as Sir Nigel Wilson moves to stand down|last=English|first=Simon|work=Evening Standard|date=2023-01-30|access-date=11 September 2024}}</ref> He has won several national masters athletics championships.<ref name="Standard 2023"/>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{reflist}}


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[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Essex]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Essex]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Norwich]]
[[Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni]]
[[Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni]]
[[Category:British chief executives]]
[[Category:British chief executives]]
[[Category:British corporate directors]]
[[Category:British corporate directors]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:People from Darlington]]



{{UK-business-bio-stub}}
{{UK-business-bio-stub}}

Latest revision as of 04:58, 27 November 2024

Nigel Wilson
Born (1956-11-17) 17 November 1956 (age 68)
Norwich, England
Education
OccupationBusinessman
Years active1977–present
TitleChairman, Canary Wharf Group
Children5

Sir Nigel David Wilson (born 17 November 1956[1]) is a British businessman. He was the group chief executive of Legal & General from 2012 to 2023.[2] In 2024, he joined the Canary Wharf Group as chairman.[3]

Early life

[edit]

Wilson was born in Norwich and grew up in Darlington. He attended Ferryhill Grammar School.[4] He went on to earn a degree in economics from the University of Essex[1] and a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[1]

Career

[edit]

Wilson was the chief executive of Legal & General Group from 30 June 2012 to 31 December 2023, having joined as group chief financial officer on 1 September 2009.[5] He was knighted in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to the finance industry and regional development.[6]

In September 2022, Wilson turned down the position of Minister for Investment in the British government.[7]

Media commentating

[edit]

While he was chief executive of Legal & General, Wilson was often quoted in the media on a range of subjects, usually commenting about government policies which he perceived to be anti-business. His outspoken views led The Sunday Times to describe him as ‘Marmite’.[8] Controversial opinions expressed by Wilson included several attempts to encourage the government to allow developers to build housing on Green Belt land.[9][10]

He was also an outspoken critic of government environmental policy, commenting in relation to wind farms, "The government is deluding itself that it is saving the world with these ugly modern windmills."[11] Wilson also claimed that Legal & General, one of the UK’s largest investors, "would not put a single penny into wind farms" (although several years later Legal & General in fact did invest circa £700m in large windfarm developments at Walney and Hornsea).[12]

Wilson has made a number of outspoken political interventions, being described as ‘one of the highest profile supporters of Brexit in the Square Mile’.[13][14] He also spoke in favour of Liz Truss’ controversial plans for widespread tax-cuts,[15] plans which later played a major part in Truss' ill-fated mini-budget.

Personal life

[edit]

Wilson has five daughters.[16] He has won several national masters athletics championships.[16]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Shah, Oliver (3 July 2016). "There is so much money around — we need to spend it on our cities". The Sunday Times. ISSN 0956-1382. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Legal & General Names Antonio Simoes as Chief Executive Officer". Bloomberg. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  3. ^ Sidders, Jack (19 June 2024). "Nigel Wilson Replaces Iacobescu as Canary Wharf Group Chairman". Bloomberg. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Graduation 2024: Sir Nigel Wilson honoured by the University of Sunderland". University of Sunderland. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Nigel D. Wilson: Executive Profile". BusinessWeek. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  6. ^ "No. 63571". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 2022. p. N2.
  7. ^ Swinford, Richard Fletcher Steven. "City veteran Wilson snubs Truss offer of ministerial job". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  8. ^ Dunkley, Emma (13 October 2019). "Nigel Wilson, L&G's marmite man, proves an acquired taste. The insurer's chief executive divides the city with his direct style". The Sunday Times.
  9. ^ Ahmed, Kamal (1 February 2017). "Housebuilder L&G wants 'reassessment' of green belt". BBC News website.
  10. ^ "Oxford University plans 2,000 new homes in and around city". BBC News website. 27 June 2019.
  11. ^ Salmon, James (10 August 2013). "Plans to build more wind farms are 'deluded', L&G boss warns the government". Scotland Against Spin.
  12. ^ "Legal & General completes financing on what is soon to be the largest windfarm in the world". Legal & General press release. 27 November 2018.
  13. ^ Foy, Simon (9 August 2022). "Liz Truss's tax cuts could trigger a wave of investment in the UK, says L&G chief". The Daily Telegraph.
  14. ^ Samuel, Juliet (6 August 2014). "L&G Chief Says UK Should Quit EU Without Better Deal". The Wall Street Journal.
  15. ^ Foy, Simon (9 August 2022). "Liz Truss's tax cuts could trigger a wave of investment in the UK, says L&G chief". The Daily Telegraph.
  16. ^ a b English, Simon (30 January 2023). "L&G begins search for new leader as Sir Nigel Wilson moves to stand down". Evening Standard. Retrieved 11 September 2024.