Charles Powell

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

Charles David Powell, Baron Powell, KCMG (born 6 June 1941), son of Air Vice-Marshal John Powell OBE, is a diplomat, politician and businessman. He served as a key foreign policy advisor to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher during the 1980s. His brother, Jonathan Powell, was chief of staff to Tony Blair throughout his period as Prime Minister, from 1997 to 2007.

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[edit] Early life

Educated at The King's School, Canterbury and New College, Oxford from where he graduated in 1963 with a BA in Modern History.

[edit] Diplomatic career

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). During his time working for Mrs Thatcher, he became one of her most trusted foreign policy aides, and helped broker the controversial al-Yamamah arms deal with Saudi Arabia. [1]

[edit] Business career

Since 1992 he has been an international businessman. Using his experience gained during his years in government, he has picked up several lucrative directorships and consultancies [2]. 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.

[edit] Brunei controversy

In 2005, it was revealed Tony Blair was using Powell as his special envoy to Brunei, and had been acting in the unpaid role for several years. This was controversial because Powell was on the payroll of BAE, and the company was at the time in dispute with Brunei over the purchase of three warships. Lord Powell denied a conflict of interest over both his links to BAE, and the fact his brother Jonathan Powell was serving as Tony Blair's chief of staff. [3]

[edit] House of Lords

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

[edit] Personal life

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

He has three brothers, Chris, Roderick 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. [4]


[edit] Honours

  • Charles Powell became Sir Charles Powell in 1990 when he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (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.

[edit] References

  1. ^ "BAE Files: Charles Powell", BBC, 2007-06-07. Retrieved on 2008-03-18. 
  2. ^ "BAE Files: Charles Powell", BBC, 2007-06-07. Retrieved on 2008-03-18. 
  3. ^ "Blair's special envoy to Brunei on BAE payroll", Guardian, 2005-10-08. Retrieved on 2008-03-18. 
  4. ^ "What Happened to Team Blair?", BBC, 2007-12-27. Retrieved on 2007-12-07. 

[edit] External links

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