Parker will become Chairman on November 8
The National Trust is delighted to announce the appointment of Tim Parker as its next Chairman. He will take up the role after the Annual General Meeting in Swindon on 8 November when current Chairman, Simon Jenkins, steps down.
Tim is a long-time member of the National Trust and in recent years has actively supported its work. He is the current Chairman of the Trust’s Commercial Panel.
Tim is Chairman and Chief Executive of Samsonite and brings enormous experience at the highest level to the role of Chairman.
Tim Parker says: “I have been a member of the National Trust for almost thirty years and I am a great admirer of all it does to care for the nation’s heritage, coast and countryside. I am delighted to be taking up the role of Chairman and look forward enormously to playing my part in helping the Trust to keep these places special today and in the future.”
A man with strong cultural interests, Tim owns the British Pathe Film Archive, perhaps the foremost 20th century film record in the English language. He is a patron of the National Theatre and friend of the Royal Opera. Tim lists his other interests as playing the flute, collecting art, running and the restoration of a walled garden at his home.
A former economist for HM Treasury he has had an outstanding business career in which he turned round the fortunes of the AA, Kwik Fit, Clarks Shoes and Kenwood Appliances. He has served on the boards of three FTSE 100 companies (Legal and General, Alliance Boots and the Compass Group) and was the Chairman of Channel Nine TV in Australia.
Helen Ghosh, the Trust’s Director-General, says: “I am very much looking forward to working with Tim who combines a lifelong passion for the work of the Trust with experience of leading large and successful organisations like ours. It’s a very exciting prospect.”
During the last few years, the Trust has seen its membership grow above 4 million and visits to its paid-for properties approach 20 million. Simon Jenkins’ period as Chairman also saw expenditure on conservation projects rise by more than 25% and the successful appeal to acquire an iconic stretch of the White Cliffs of Dover.
