Biography
Lord Marshall was appointed Chairman of Nomura International plc on 1 October 2004 and Chairman of Pirelli UK Limited on 1 September 2003. His extensive experience in international business started in shipping in 1951 with Orient Steam Navigation Company, thereafter in vehicle rental and leasing for 23 years, initially with Hertz and then Avis, during which time he lived and worked in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom.
In 1971 he was appointed Executive Vice President of Avis and became President and Chief Executive in 1976, based in New York. Following the take-over of Avis, in 1979 he was appointed Executive Vice President of Norton Simon Inc., and Co-Chairman of Avis. He returned to the United Kingdom in 1981 as Deputy Chief Executive and a Board Member of Sears Holdings plc, joining British Airways in February 1983 as Chief Executive. In February 1993 he was appointed Executive Chairman and from 1 January 1996, he became non-executive Chairman until his retirement in July 2004.
From May 1996 to July 1998, Lord Marshall was President of the CBI (Confederation of British Industry) and currently chairs the CBI International Advisory Board. He is Chairman the Board of Governors of Birkbeck College - University of London, Vice-President of the Advertising Association; Member of the British American Business Council International Advisory Board; and President of the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council.
From June 1998 to July 2003, he was Chairman of Invensys plc (formerly Siebe plc); and from 1995 to 2000 was Chairman of Inchcape plc. He was Chairman of The Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) from September 1999 to July 2003; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Conference Board Inc from October 2000 to October 2003, Chairman of VisitBritain January 2005 to December 2006 and member of the Board of HSBC Holdings plc from January 1993 to May 2004.
He was created a Life Peer in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June 1998 having been made a Knight Bachelor in 1987. He is married with one daughter.
He became an Honorary Vice President of UNICEF UK in September 2003.
