Ian Lenagan

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Ian Lenagan (Born 1946, Scholes, Wigan) is a Business entrepreneur, theatre producer and shareholder of Harlequins RL & Oxford United FC as well as chairman of Wigan Warriors

1 Early Life
2 Career
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Early Life

Born in Scholes, Wigan Ian attended St. Patrick's Primary School as a child and gained a fond appreciation for rugby league, playing for the local amateur club also named St. Patrick's.

He later moved onto nearby St. Helens and was educated at West Park Grammar School before eventually moving onto University. Ian attended both Manchester and Liverpool university and graduated from both with a BSc in Mathematics and a MSc in Magnetohydrodynamics from both universities respectively.^[1]

[edit] Career

In 1985 Ian set up his own business, Workplace Systems, in Milton Keynes. The company, which develops and supplies software products for workforce management was very successful and expanded abroad to places across Europe, Australasia, the USA and the Middle East. Major retailers that are known to use and trust Workplace Systems are Argos, Focus, Sports Café, Next & Morrisons. With the success of Workplace Systems the company was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2000 under the name Telework Systems PLC to incorporate another company founded by Ian in 1981, TeleWare, which focused on the telephony software products market.

A decline in the telephone market saw TeleWare sold off to its management in 2003 and the company change its name to WorkPlace Systems International plc which Ian owns 49% of.^[2]

Ian is also a successful theatre producer with over 30 productions to his name. His most recent West End hit is a co-production of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" starring Christian Slater.

Ian is also the non-executive Chairman of the Sports Café, an expanding chain of sports bars and restaurants of which he owns 1%

Like many from Wigan, Ian is a huge rugby league fan. His successful business ventures have allowed him to become involved in the sport and in July 2005 he took over as Chairman and majority shareholder of Harlequins Rugby League, buying 65% of the shares and also taking a place on the board of directors and more recently became a major shareholder in Oxford United who are controlled by long-time friend Nick Merry.

It was announced after months of speculation that Ian would become the new owner of Wigan Warriors rugby league club, his boyhood team. Ian bought the club from former JJB Sports magnate and Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan. As well as buying the club Ian has also bought the training facilities at Edge Hall Road, the former stadium of Orrell RUFC as well as a 50 year lease on the JJB Stadium. ^[3]

Lenagans first signings for Wigan were George Carmont and Richie Mathers both from the NRL and Karl Pryce who returned to Rugby League from Rugby Union club Gloucester.