Charles Powell

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the British politician and businessman. For the American actor, see Charles Powell (actor).

This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. (help, get involved!)
Any material not supported by sources may be challenged and removed at any time. This article has been tagged since October 2006.

Charles David Powell, Lord Powell KCMG (born 6 June 1941), son of Air Vice-Marshall John Powell OBE.

Educated at King's School, Canterbury and New College, Oxford from where he graduated in 1963 with a BA in Modern History. He joined the Diplomatic Service in 1963 where he served in various posts until he became Private Secretary to Margaret Thatcher (1983 to 1990) and then Private Secretary to John Major (1990 to 1991).

Since 1992 he has been an international businessman. He is Chairman of Sagitta Asset Management Limited (asset management) and Louis Vuitton U.K. Ltd. (luggage and leather goods). Prior to his current positions, Lord Powell was Chairman of Phillips Fine Art Auctioneers (art, jewelry, and furniture auction) and Senior Director of Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. and associated companies (multinational business group). Other directorships: Caterpillar Inc.; LVMH Moet-Hennessy Louis Vuitton; Mandarin Oriental International Ltd.; Textron Corporation; Schindler Holding Ltd., and Yell Group plc. Lord Powell has been a director of Caterpillar since 2001. He is also a signatory of the Henry Jackson Society.

He currently sits as a life peer in The House of Lords. Although associated with the Conservative Party, Lord Powell sits on the crossbenches.

He married Carla Bonardi in 1964. They have two sons.

He has two brothers, Chris and Jonathan Powell, the Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Tony Blair, a member of the Labour Party. His surname is pronounced POLE although his brother Jonathan pronounces his POWELL.

[edit] Honours

Charles Powell became Sir Charles Powell in 1990 when he was appointed KCMG.
In 2001 he was awarded the Public Service Star by the government of Singapore.
He was created a life peer in the 2000 New Year Honours List. His full title is Baron Powell of Bayswater of Canterbury in the County of Kent.