David Meller

David Robert Meller CBE (born December 1959) is a British businessman, and the sponsor of an academy trust, and a member of the Department for Education's board of directors, until the scandal surrounding the Presidents Club, of which he was the joint chairman, led to his resignation in January 2018.[1]

David Meller
Born
David Robert Meller

December 1959 (age 61)
NationalityBritish
OccupationBusinessman
Known forCo-chairman, Presidents Club
Spouse(s)Wendy Susan Frumkes
Parent(s)Percival "Percy" Meller
Anita Meller
RelativesMichael Meller (brother)
Julius A. Meller (grandfather)

Early life

David Robert Meller was born in December 1959.[2] He is the son of Percival Meller (1919-2016), and his wife Anita.[3][4] He has a brother, Michael Meller.[4]

Meller has said that he attended a comprehensive school, earned four O-levels and "struggled with dyslexia".[5]

Career

In 1987, Meller was the joint chief executive of Julius A. Meller Ltd of London, a "diversified manufacturing company", from which his father had retired.[3] The company was founded by his grandfather, Julius Aaron Meller.[3]

As of 2018, Meller "helps run his family's company", the Meller Group, a luxury goods company.[5][6] In 2013, he was chairman of the Meller Group, a cosmetics firm.[7]

Meller founded the Meller Educational Trust, which runs four schools and a university technical college.[8]

In June 2013, Meller joined the Department for Education as a non-executive board member.[9][8] He also served as chair of the Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network and co-chair of the Apprenticeship Delivery Board from January 2016.[8][5]

He set up the Meller Educational Trust, which runs four schools and a university technical college, and served as chair of the National Apprenticeship Ambassador Network and the Apprenticeship Delivery Board.[8] In 2013, he was the "main backer" of a new school opening that autumn in Elstree.[7]

Following calls by MPs and others, Meller resigned from the Department for Education's board of directors, and the apprenticeship delivery board, the day after the story broke in the Financial Times.[1][10][11] Meller also resigned as a trustee of the Mayor's Fund for London.[12]

Honours

Meller received a CBE in the 2018 new year's honours list.[8][5]

Politics

Meller has been a "generous Conservative party donor".[5]

Meller was a trustee of the think tank Policy Exchange, founded by Michael Gove, and finance chair of Gove's Conservative leadership campaign.[5]

Personal life

On 24 October 1987, Meller married Wendy Susan Frumkes, the daughter of Herbert M. Frumkes of New York, president of Tradex Brokerage Service Inc, at New York's Metropolitan Club, with Rabbi Ronald B. Sobel officiating.[3]

In May 2015, Meller sold a 10,000  sq  ft six-storey Grade II listed Arts and Crafts-style brick house at 79 Mount Street, Mayfair, London to the Qatari royal family for £40 million.[13]

References
  1. "The Presidents Club, David Meller, and the rise of the education philanthropist". www.newstatesman.com. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  2. "David Robert MELLER - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  3. "DAVID MELLER, EXECUTIVE, WEDS WENDY S. FRUMKES". The New York Times. 25 October 1987. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  4. "Obituaries: Percy Meller" (PDF). Hampstead Synagogue Review 2017/18. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  5. Adams, Richard (24 January 2018). "David Meller, the Tory donor 'desperate to be part of establishment'". the Guardian. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  6. Marriage, Madison (23 January 2018). "Men Only: Inside the charity fundraiser where hostesses are put on show". Financial Times. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  7. "The Power 1000 - London's most influential people 2013: Crusaders,". standard.co.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  8. "David Meller resigns from DfE board following Presidents Club allegations". feweek.co.uk. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  9. "David Meller - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  10. https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/jewish-groups-discomfort-at-links-with-presidents-club-scandal-1.457389
  11. "David Meller resigns from DfE board following Presidents Club allegations". schoolsweek.co.uk. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  12. "Businessman David Meller quits education post amid Presidents Club Charity dinner 'sexism' storm". standard.co.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  13. "Qataris buy £40m six storey Mayfair mansion". standard.co.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
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