Sir John Egan

Sir John Egan joined Shell International as petroleum engineer and then developed a successful career in the automotive industry, working for General Motors, Massey Ferguson and British Leyland, rising to become Chairman and Chief Executive of Jaguar.

He retired from Jaguar after having sold the company to Ford and was appointed to the board of directors of British Airports Authority in 1990, becoming Chief Executive the same year, a position which he held until 1999.

He was President of the Confederation of British Industry from 2002 to 2004.

Board Mandates

Sir John is currently Chairman of Severn Trent, a Non-Executive Director of Governance for Owners and Chancellor of Coventry University. He is past-President of the Institute of Management and a past Trustee of the Cancer Research UK.

His past directorships include Legal General Group, where he was also Vice-Chairman, Foreign and Colonial Investment Trust and BTA. Sir John was Chairman of the Construction Task Force commissioned by the government to examine the scope for improving quality and efficiency in UK construction and later became Chairman of the taskforce advising the Deputy Prime Minister on the skills needed to create sustainable communities.

His past chairmanships include Inchcape, MEPC, Asite and the London Tourist Board.

Sir John has also been Vice-Chairman of the Financial Reporting Council and President of the Confederation of British Industry.

Awards

Sir John was knighted in 1986, holds eight honorary doctorates and two professorships.