Rupert Soames

Rupert Soames
Born Rupert Christopher Soames
(1959-05-18) 18 May 1959
Croydon, Surrey, England, UK
Nationality British
Education Eton College
Alma mater Worcester College, University of Oxford
Occupation Businessman
Years active 1982–present
Title Chief Executive of Serco plc
Term 2014–present
Predecessor Christopher Hyman
Successor Incumbent
Spouse(s) Camilla Dunne
Children 3: Arthur, Daisy and Jack

Rupert Christopher Soames OBE (born 18 May 1959) is a British businessman, CEO of the outsourcing company Serco.[1]

Early life

Soames was born in Croydon, Surrey, to Lord and Lady Soames. He is a grandson of Sir Winston Churchill, a nephew of the former Defence Secretary Duncan Sandys and Diana Churchill; the journalist Randolph Churchill and the actress and dancer Sarah Churchill and a great-nephew of the founders of the Scout movement, Robert Baden-Powell and Olave Baden-Powell. His brother is the Conservative MP Nicholas Soames.

Education

Soames was educated at St. Aubyns Preparatory School in Rottingdean, East Sussex and Eton College,[2] and then Worcester College at the University of Oxford,[3] during which time he worked as a DJ at the London nightclub Annabel's, as well as being elected to the Presidency of the Oxford Union.[3]

Career

Upon graduation, he was offered a position at General Electric Company (GEC) by the managing director Arnold Weinstock. He remained at GEC for 15 years, working in the company's avionics and computing divisions, and became managing director of Avery Berkel, running the company's UK, India, Asia and Africa operations.[4]

After leaving GEC in 1997, Soames joined the software company Misys as chief executive of its Midas-Kapiti division. He was promoted to chief executive of the Banking and Securities Division in June 2000.[5]

Soames left Misys after a disagreement with Misys founder Kevin Lomax on the company's direction, and was appointed chief executive of power hire group Aggreko in June 2003,[6] replacing Philip Harrower who died when his car collided with a train in the United States.[7]

Soames was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours.[8]

In November 2010 Rupert Soames gave a speech to Holyrood in which he warned, "In the UK, we are already close to the rocks, because, over the next 8 years a third of our coal-fired capacity, two-thirds of our oil-fired capacity, and nearly three-quarters of our nuclear capacity will be closed down either through age or the impact of the European Large Combustion Plant Directive. Absent a massive and immediate programme of building new power stations, with concrete being poured in the next two years, we will be in serious danger of the lights going out."[9]

Personal life

He married Camilla Dunne, daughter of Sir Thomas Dunne, KG, KCVO in 1988. They have three children: Arthur, Daisy and Jack.[2] Jack Soames has served as a Page of Honour.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Brinded, Lianna. "Serco Replaces CEO Chris Hyman with Aggreko Boss Rupert Soames". International Business Times. IBT Media Inc. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  2. 1 2 Hon. Rupert Christopher Soames, The Peerage, 10 May 2003.
  3. 1 2 Hibbert, Christopher, ed. (1988). "Presidents of the Union since 1900". The Encyclopaedia of Oxford. Macmillan. pp. 527–532. ISBN 0-333-39917-X.
  4. ↑ Business profile: What it means to light up New Orleans, The Daily Telegraph, 8 April 2006.
  5. ↑ "Press Release: Misys announces formation of new Group Operating Board". Misys plc. 1 September 2001. Retrieved 1 September 2001.
  6. ↑ Johnston, Lachlan: Aggreko chief role for Rupert Soames, The Daily Telegraph, 4 June 2003.
  7. ↑ Osborne, Alistair: Aggreko chief executive killed in Louisiana car crash, The Daily Telegraph, 31 December 2002.
  8. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 59282. p. 12. 31 December 2009.
  9. ↑ "Rupert Soames speech to Scottish Parliament". Aggreko. 12 November 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  10. ↑ http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/four-pages-at-state-opening-of.html
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