Nigel Wilson (businessman)
Nigel Wilson | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British |
| Education | |
| Occupation | businessman |
| Years active | 1977–2023 |
| Title | Group CEO, Legal and General |
| Term | 2012-2023 |
| Children | 5 daughters |
 | This article may have been created or edited in return for undisclosed payments, a violation of Wikipedia's terms of use. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view. (December 2023) |
Sir Nigel David Wilson is a British businessman. He was the group chief executive of Legal & General from 2012 to 2023.[1]
Early life
Wilson earned a degree in economics from the University of Essex[2] and a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[2]
- 1979-1982: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA: PhD Economics, Awarded two Kennedy Scholarships and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Grant. Taught statistics and finance and worked at National Bureau of Economic Research and as a computer consultant on complex financial models.
- 1976-1979: Essex University: MA and BA Economics (1st) - 1st in year. Award for outstanding undergraduate dissertation.
Career
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.[3] He was knighted in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to the finance industry and regional development.[4]
In September 2022, Wilson turned down the position of Minister for Investment in the British government.[5]
Government and Policy Engagement
- Prime Minister's Business Advisory Group member, 2015-2016, Build Back Better 2019-202
- Member of the Levelling Up Committee (2021-)
- Commissioner on Resolution Foundation's Intergenerational Commission, 2017-2018
- Member of the expert group's advising on the government's Social Care Green Paper (2017-2021) Life Sciences Industrial Strategy Implementation Board (2017-)
- Chairman of the Bank of England's Climate Financial Risk Forum, Innovation Working Group (2019-2021), Investment Association's review of Executive Pay (2016), Purpose Led Businesses (2016-17)
2012 to 2023 - Legal & General: Group Chief Executive Officer
2009 to 2021 - Legal & General: Group Chief Financial Office
2010 to 2012 - Capital Plc: Senior non-Executive Director
2004 to 2011 - Halfords Plc: Chairman, Senior Non-Executive Director
2001 to 2009 - United Business Media Plc: Deputy CEO and CFO
1996 to 2001 - Viridian Group Plc: Chief Executive, Viridian Capital, Group Financial Director
1993 to 1995 - Waste Management International Plc: Finance Director
1992 to 1993 - GPA Ltd: Chief Executive
1988 to 1992 - Stanhope Plc: Chief Executive Officer, Finance Director (Chairman for 6 months)
1986 to 1988 - Dixons Plc: Group Commercial Director, Head of Corporate Finance and Strategy
1983 to 1986 - McKinsey & Co
L&G Annual report 2023
L&G Results RNS 2023
Media commentating
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’.[6] Controversial opinions expressed by Wilson included several attempts to encourage the government to allow developers to build housing on Green Belt land.[7][8]
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."[9] 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).[10]
Wilson has made a number of outspoken political interventions, being described as ‘one of the highest profile supporters of Brexit in the Square Mile’.[11][12] He also spoke in favour of Liz Truss’ controversial plans for widespread tax-cuts,[13] plans which later played a major part in Truss' ill-fated mini-budget.
Personal life
Wilson has five daughters.[14] He has won several national masters athletics championships.[14]
His sporting activity as an athlete is separate from his work-related and public-facing activities. As a veteran national athletics champion in 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m, and keen on many other sports, he provides quiet leadership to younger amateur club-level and school athletes.
References
- ^ "Legal & General Names Antonio Simoes as Chief Executive Officer". Bloomberg. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ "Nigel D. Wilson: Executive Profile". BusinessWeek. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
- ^ "No. 63571". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 2022. p. N2.
- ^ Swinford, Richard Fletcher Steven. "City veteran Wilson snubs Truss offer of ministerial job". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Ahmed, Kamal (1 February 2017). "Housebuilder L&G wants 'reassessment' of green belt". BBC News website.
- ^ "Oxford University plans 2,000 new homes in and around city". BBC News website. 27 June 2019.
- ^ Salmon, James (10 August 2013). "Plans to build more wind farms are 'deluded', L&G boss warns the government". Scotland Against Spin.
- ^ "Legal & General completes financing on what is soon to be the largest windfarm in the world". Legal & General press release. 27 November 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Samuel, Juliet (6 August 2014). "L&G Chief Says UK Should Quit EU Without Better Deal". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Nigel Wilson". Legal & General. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
 | This United Kingdom business-related biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |