Campbell Adamson

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Sir (William Owen) Campbell Adamson (26 June 1922 – 21 August 2000) was a British company director who came to public attention as Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry from 1969 to 1976. He came to the role at the peak of political controversy over the Labour government's attempt to reform trade union law, and held the difficult role of representing industry through the complex struggle over Edward Heath's Industrial Relations Bill. Adamson's remarks about Government policy on the eve of the February 1974 election were blamed by Heath for the Conservative Party's loss of the election. He was able to unite industry to support a 'Yes' vote in the referendum on British membership of the European Communities in 1975. After leaving the CBI, Adamson became Chairman of Abbey National.

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[edit] Family and education

Adamson was born in Perth,[1] the only son of John Adamson who was a chartered accountant.[2] His father was strong Scottish patriot who was said to dislike "even the idea of living south of the border", but was persuaded by an attractive job offer to do so.[1] Campbell Adamson was sent to Rugby School, and then went on to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge[2] where he read economics under John Maynard Keynes. He married Gilvray Allan, a sociologist, in 1945.[1]

[edit] Entry into steel industry

Due to hereditary night-blindness, Adamson was rejected for military service during World War II, despite his efforts to offer his services; instead he joined the Royal Institute of International Affairs.[1] As the war was coming to an end, Adamson took a post in industry as a management trainee for steelmaker Baldwins based in south Wales. Once trained he became general manager of the Spencer Steelworks at Llanwern; the steel industry was undergoing major changes at the time due to nationalisation and Baldwins merged with Richard Thomas in 1948 as part of the 'Steel Company of Wales'. Adamson was in charge of labour relations and his method of fair negotiation with the trade unions gave him a reputation which extended outside the steel industry.[3]

Although the Conservative government from 1951 wanted to privatise the steel industry, it was unable to sell the Steel Company of Wales due to its size; however it tried to operate as though in private ownership. Adamson became a Director of Richard Thomas and Baldwins in 1959, and in 1960 he was appointed to the council of the Iron and Steel Institute.[2] His position made him politically prominent. Adamson was not a supporter of the Labour Party (claiming that hearing Herbert Morrison speak of the party's virtues had put him off), but he was known to be a 'liberal capitalist with a profound social awareness'.[1]

[edit] Civil service posts

After the Labour government created the Department of Economic Affairs, Adamson was invited to take a role with the civil service. He became Industrial Policy Co-ordinator and the head of a team of industrial advisors from July 1967.[4] However the post offered little opportunity for Adamson. The whole steel industry was renationalised, and the Chairman Lord Melchett wanted to give him a senior role but nothing came of it.[3] Adamson had already been named as a member of the BBC General Advisory Council in October 1964.[5]

[edit] CBI

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e Geoffrey Goodman, "Campbell Adamson" (obituary), The Guardian, 23 August 2000, p. 24.
  2. ^ a b c "Who Was Who", A & C Black.
  3. ^ a b "Sir Campbell Adamson" (obituary), The Times, 24 August 2000, p. 21.
  4. ^ "New DEA industrial advisers", The Times, 8 July 1967, p. 17.
  5. ^ "B.B.C. Council Has 24 New Members", The Times, 21 October 1964, p. 8.