Roger Parry

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Roger Parry (born 1953) is a media entrepreneur based in the UK. He was born in London and educated at the Universities of Bristol and Oxford.[1]

He is a shareholder in, and Chairman of, a number of media groups quoted on the London Stock Exchange including Media Square plc[6], Johnston Press plc, Future plc [7], Mobile Streams plc[8], and YouGov plc.[2]

In the past he has been Chief Executive of the international divisions of Clear Channel International and More Group.[3] He was a consultant with McKinsey & Co.[4]

His first job in 1976 was as personal assistant to Charles and Maurice Saatchi the founders of Saatchi & Saatchi [5]

In the 1980’s he was a television and radio reporter with the BBC, ITV and LBC. He was dismissed from his post at the BBC after details of his involvement in the pirate radio station Laser 558 were unearthed.[6]

In 1984 Parry was a member of a consortium including Jocelyn Stevens and Tina Brown which attempted, but failed, to win the franchise for the London radio station LBC. In 1994 he tried again with London Radio Limited which also involved broadcaster John Tusa and was, this time, successful but sold the station 9 weeks later.[7]

Between 2000 and 2005 he was frequently mentioned as a possible bidder for the radio station Capital 95.8 and in 2003 the CEO of Capital said that if Parry did make an offer it would be rejected out of hand. According to the Guardian newspaper, Parry responded to this by saying: It would be like Ann Widdecombe turning down a date from Brad Pitt [8]

In 2003 as the largest private shareholder in the radio station 102.2 Jazz FM Parry held the casting votes in a hostile take-over by the Guardian Media Group which was opposed by the Jazz FM management. He voted for the sale and was criticised by the Jazz FM CEO. [9]

During 2006 he was linked with a number of private equity bids including one for the retail chain HMV [10]and another for the British television broadcaster ITV.[11] He was twice forced by the UK Takeover Panel to deny rumours that he was about to bid for ITV.[12]

He is Chairman of the Trustees of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre[13]and a Trustee of the Foundation for Liver Research

Parry has written three books. He writes many articles including a review of the bestselling book Wikinomics in Management Today[14]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Who's Who 2005: An Annual Biographical Dictionary, 157th annual edition, London: A & C Black. ISBN 0-7136-7010-X. 
  2. ^ Jane Martinson Roger Parry: Profile. The serial media executive, Guardian, September 8th 2006
  3. ^ Saeed Shah Roger Parry: The man with the plan for ITV does his rounds of London's media village, Independent, September 9th 2006
  4. ^ McKinsey News[1], Alumni News June 13th 2006
  5. ^ A List[2], Campaign, 2006
  6. ^ "Exclusively revealed - The Mysterious People Behind Radio Laser." [3], Evening Standard, Sunday Times
  7. ^ Media Guardian 100Roger Parry, The Guardian, July 12th 2004
  8. ^ Jessica Hodgson Cultures clash at Capital, The Observer, July 20th 2003
  9. ^ Dan Milmo Guardian closes in on Jazz FM, The Guardian May22 2002
  10. ^ Andrew Davidson The leading man in Permira’s HMV bid, Sunday Times February 12th 2006
  11. ^ James Robinson Can Roger Parry see his way clear to take control of ITV? , Observer, August 6th 2006
  12. ^ Chris Tryhorn [http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,1906688,00.html Parry rules out ITV bid], Media Guardian October 11 2006
  13. ^ Globe Trustees [4], 2007
  14. ^ The wacky world of Wiki [5], Management Today August 1st 2007
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