Egan takes over as CBI President

Sir John Egan is to take over as President of the Confederation of British industry (CBI) at a ceremony during the organisation's annual dinner, which will be held tonight.

Currently a non-executive Chairman of Inchcape plc, Harrison Lovegrove Co Ltd and Asite plc, Sir John is also a past President of the Institute of Management, and a Trustee of Cancer Research UK.

Sir John was educated at Bablake School in Coventry, and London University where he graduated in Petroleum Engineering. From 1962-66 he was employed by Shell International as a Petroleum Engineer, before deciding, in 1966, to gain an MSc in Business Studies form the London Business School.

In 1968 he became General Manager of AC Delco's UK replacement parts operations, part of General Motors, before joining British Leyland in 1971, where he was responsible for the rapid development of the successful Unipart operation.

Sir John left British Leyland in 1976 to become Marketing Director of Massey Ferguson's construction and machinery division, consequently becoming Corporate Parts Director. He then rejoined British Leyland as Chairman of Jaguar Cars in May 1980 and after its privatisation in 1984, he remained as Chairman and Chief Executive of Jaguar plc. He was knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in June 1986.

After the takeover of Jaguar by Ford, Sir John retired from Jaguar and was appointed to the Board of Directors of BAA plc in June 1990, taking up the position of Chief Executive in September, which he held until October 1999. (CL)