John Timpson (businessman)

Sir
John Timpson
CBE
Timpson in 2017
Born (1943-03-24) 24 March 1943 (age 81)
EducationOundle School
Alma materUniversity of Nottingham
Occupation(s)Chairman and owner, Timpson
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1968; died 2016)​
Children5, including Edward and James
RelativesKathleen Ollerenshaw (aunt)

Sir William John Anthony Timpson CBE (born 24 March 1943) is a British businessman who is chairman and owner of retailer Timpson.

Early life and career

Timpson was born in 1943,[1] and educated at Oundle School and the University of Nottingham.[2] He began his professional career as a management trainee at Clarks, before moving on to become a shoe buyer for his family's business, William Timpson Ltd., in 1965.[1] He was appointed a director of Timpson in 1968, and remained with the company after his father Anthony was ousted as chairman five years later, at which point it was acquired for £28,600,000 by United Drapery Stores.[3] After leading a management buyout, Timpson was himself installed as the firm's chairman in 1985.[1]

Timpson now has a weekly management column in The Daily Telegraph and has written several books about his management style. According to The Sunday Times Rich List in 2019, he is worth £210 million.[4]

Politics

During the EU referendum in 2016, John Timpson gave his public support for leaving the EU and stated that it is "a risk worth taking".[5]

Personal life

Timpson lives in Cheshire.[6][7] Together with his wife Alex, whom he married in 1968 and who died in 2016, he had three children, adopted two more, and fostered another 90.[8][9]

His son James Timpson, Baron Timpson has been the CEO of Timpson Group since 2002. In July 2024, James Timpson was appointed Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation in the Starmer ministry by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

His youngest birth son, Edward Timpson, was until the 2024 General Election the Conservative MP for Eddisbury in Cheshire, and was previously MP for Crewe and Nantwich, also in Cheshire.

Timpson is an avid Manchester City supporter.[10]

He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2004 Birthday Honours for services to the retail sector,[11] and was knighted in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to business and fostering.[12][13]

Timpson's aunt, Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw, who died in 2014 aged 101, was a former Lord Mayor of Manchester, a Freeman of the City and a mathematician, and has been described as "one of the most distinguished Mancunians of her era."[6]

Publications

  • High Street Heroes: The Story of British Retail in 50 People, Icon Books (2015)
  • Ask John: Straight-talking, common sense from the front line of management; Paperback, Icon Books (2014)
  • Upside Down Management, John Wiley & Sons (2010)
  • How to Ride a Giraffe, Caspian Publishing (2008)
  • Dear James: Secrets of Success from a Management Maverick, Caspian Publishing (2000)

References

  1. ^ a b c "TIMPSON, Sir (William) John (Anthony)". Who's Who. Vol. 2023 (online ed.). A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ "Meet The Timpsons by Timpson". Timpson. 23 January 1929. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  3. ^ David Teather (3 April 2009). "John Timpson, the cobbler who is showing his rivals a clean pair of heels". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Rich List 2019: profiles 553-599 featuring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas". The Times. Times Newspapers. 12 May 2019. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 19 August 2019. (subscription required)
  5. ^ "'Maverick' shoe magnate John Timpson backs Brexit". The Telegraph. 26 March 2017. (subscription required)
  6. ^ a b King, Ray (15 May 2017). "Rewards come in many ways for Manchester multi-millionaire John Timpson". I Love Manchester. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  7. ^ Scott, Caroline (28 January 2018). "A Life in the Day: John Timpson, the shoe-repair businessman". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 5 May 2021.(subscription required)
  8. ^ "Keynote Speaker – John Timpson CBE". Diocese of St Asaph. 21 October 2015. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Alex Timpson, children's campaigner - obituary". The Telegraph. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2016.(subscription required)
  10. ^ "Business Profile: Timpson, the eccentric cobbler". The Telegraph. 30 March 2003. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  11. ^ United Kingdom list: "No. 57315". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 2004. p. 8.
  12. ^ "No. 61962". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 2017. p. B2.
  13. ^ Quinn, James (7 June 2017). "Knighthood for John Timpson, the cobbler who fostered 90 children". The Telegraph. Retrieved 17 June 2017.(subscription required)