Ray Horrocks
Raymond Horrocks CBE (9 January 1930 - 15 July 2011)[1] was a businessman from Lancashire, and a chief executive of British Leyland (BL) through the turbulent late 1970s and early 1980s.
Ray Horrocks CBE | |
|---|---|
| Born | Raymond Horrocks January 9, 1930 |
| Died | July 15, 2011 (aged 81) |
| Education | Bolton Municipal Secondary School |
| Known for | CEO of BL Cars |
| Spouse(s) | Pamela Russell |
Early life
He attended Bolton Municipal Secondary School (Bolton County Grammar School from 1947, now known as Bolton St Catherine's Academy).
Career
From 1944-50 he worked in the Lancashire textile industry. From 1948-50 he completed his National Service with the Intelligence Corps.
From 1953-58 he was a merchandiser for M&S.
Ford
From 1963-72 he worked for Ford of Britain, later becoming a director of Europe and the Middle East (Ford of Europe).
British Leyland
He joined BL in 1978 being head hunted by the new chairman Michael Edwardes.[2] He was managing director from 1980-81 of BL Cars, becoming chairman and chief executive from 1981-82.
On 1 October 1982, BL was restructured into two main divisions,[3] and from 1982-86 he was group chief executive of BL (Cars).[4] He left BL at the end of April 1986 and was critical of the government's handling of the proposed privatisation.[5]
Personal life
He married Pamela Russell in 1953; they had three daughters. He was awarded the CBE in the 1983 Birthday Honours. He lived in Pangbourne.
References
- Companies House
- "Business Diary: BL's Horrocks ยท Morgan and BR". The Times (60192). 22 December 1977. p. 17.
- The British Motor Industry, 1945-94: A Case Study in Industrial Decline, page 366
- Industrial Policy and the Motor Industry, page 210
- "Government slammed by Austin Rover chief". The Guardian. 10 April 1986. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
| Business positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by New division |
Group Chief Executive of British Leyland (Cars) October 1982 - April 1986 |
Succeeded by |