British businessman
Derek Higgs |
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![]() Higgs in 2004 |
| Born | (1944-04-03)3 April 1944
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| Died | 28 April 2008(2008-04-28) (aged 64)
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| Occupation | Businessman |
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| Known for | Higgs review (2003). |
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| Spouse(s) | Julia Higgs, née Arguile (married 1970–2008) |
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| Children | 3 |
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Sir Derek Alan Higgs (3 April 1944 – 28 April 2008) was an English businessman and merchant banker.[1] He was knighted in 2004. His father, Alan Higgs, was a multimillionaire through property businesses in the Midlands.
Early life
Sir Derek was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire and was educated at Solihull School,[2] and in 1963 he went to the University of Bristol and graduated in Economics and Accounting in 1966.[3]
Business career
After graduating from the University of Bristol in 1966, Sir Derek joined Price Waterhouse, a large accountancy firm, and after training he qualified as a Chartered Accountant.[1] In 1969 he became a corporate finance executive at Baring Brothers, a merchant bank. He moved-on and joined S. G. Warburg & Co. in 1972 and continued his career in merchant banking.[1][4] He was also a board member of several companies including Prudential, British Land, and Coventry City Football Club.[5]
In 2002 the British Labour Government commissioned Sir Derek to chair the Review of the role and effectiveness of non-executive directors. The report, widely known as the "Higgs review" or "Higgs report", was published on 20 January 2003 and many of its recommendations for large companies have been implemented.[1][6][7]
In October 2005 he became the chairman of the Alliance & Leicester bank and worked there through difficult times, which were partly caused by the credit crunch that took effect during 2007 in Britain.[3]
Trustee
His father, Alan, died in 1979. As he felt inherited wealth did more harm than good, Alan Higgs left his entire fortune to a charity to be created after his death to help deprived children from Coventry and nearby localities.[1] The Alan Edward Higgs Charity (also sometimes incorrectly called the Alan Higgs Trust) was set up, and Sir Derek and his sister became the trustees.[2] In January 2008 he also became one of the trustees of the Scott Trust, a British non-profit organisation which owns the Guardian Media Group.[3] He has been on the Board of Trustees of The Architecture Foundation.[citation needed]
Personal life
Sir Derek married Julia Arguile in 1970 and they had two sons and one daughter. He died unexpectedly owing to a heart attack aged 64 years on 28 April 2008 in a London hospital.[3][5]
References
External links
