- Conference Speakers
Topics:
- Business
- Leadership
Peter Gershon
Sir Peter Gershon’s 35 year career has spanned both the private and public sectors since he graduated in Mathematics at Cambridge University in 1969. He speaks on a variety of subjects from both the private and public sector and draws on his immense experiences to ensure a keynote speech to any business audience that cannot be ignored.
Speaking Topics
Sir Peter speaks on his personal experiences of leadership in the private and public sectors, public sector efficiency, public sector procurement and partnering between the public and private sectors. He also shares his personal perspectives on the key similarities and differences between the private and public sector. He also looks at the depiction of politics and civil service through television discussing 'Yes Minister' ficticious comedy, reality TV or training videos.
Starting out in business
After starting in the computer industry (1969-1986) he worked in the telecommunications industry (1987-1994) and then became the main board director in GEC plc in 1994 with responsibility for its defence business. In this role Peter led major improvements in the growth of profitability and orders, together with developing the business through acquisitions in the US and joint ventures with French, German and Italian partners. By 1999 the business had a turnover of £3.5 billion and over 37,000 employees worldwide.
Working in the public sector
Following the sale of GEC’s defence business to BAE SYSTEMS in late 1999 he joined the Civil Service in April 2000 as the first Chief Executive of the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) which had been created following a review Peter had undertaken for the Government in 1999. OGC’s remit is to lead a major programme to reform the way UK Central Civil Government handles over £13 billion p.a. of public procurement. Against an initial target to deliver £1 billion of value for money gains by March 03 the actual achievement was £1.6 billion and the foundations had been laid to deliver a further £3 billion by March 06.
Reviewing the whole UK Public Sector
In August 2003 the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer invited Peter to lead a major review of efficiency across the whole UK Public Sector (excluding the Devolved Administrations) to identify significant resources which could be reallocated in the 2004 Spending Review to front line services over the period 05/06 – 07/08. The review secured agreement to a programme leading to over £20 billion of savings in 07/08.
Back to the Private Sector
After more than 4 years of public service Peter returned to the private sector in autumn 2004 and is now Chairman of Premier Farnell plc. and Chairman of Symbian Ltd. His other current appointments include non-executive directorship of HM Treasury and membership of the council of Imperial College. In 2005/6 he headed an independent review of Ministerial and Royal Air Travel at the request of the Prime Minister and The Palace.
Sir Peter
He was awarded the CBE in 2000 for services to industry and knighted in 2004 for his work on public procurement.
Peter is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institution of Electrical Engineers, the British Computer Society, the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply and the Royal Aeronautical Society; a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute; and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists. He has an Honorary Doctorate in Technology from Kingston University
