Michael Grade Biography
Michael Grade is a fantasticaly engaging motivational business keynote speaker focussing on subject areas such as sales, marketing, leadership, strategy and business change.
Michael Grade in the Beginning
Born in London on 8 March 1943, Michael Grade was educated at Stowe and St Dunstan’s College.
A sports columnist on the Daily Mirror from 1960-66, he spent the next seven years as joint Managing Director of London Management (Talent Agency).
Roles in televison
In 1973 he became Head of Entertainment and Director of Programmes at London Weekend Television, a position he held until 1981, when he moved to the United States to become President of Embassy Television.
He joined the BBC as Controller, BBC One in September 1984, and in conjunction with these duties he became Director of Programmes, Television, in June 1986, Managing Director Designate in 1987 and BBC Chairman in 2004.
In January 1988 Michael Grade took up the post of Chief Executive at Channel 4 Television.
Subsequent appointments
In March 1995 he was appointed Non-Executive Chairman of First Leisure Corporation plc. At the end of January 1997, his appointment as Executive Chairman of First Leisure was confirmed and he took up his position on 2 June 1997. In October 1998 on the appointment of a Non-Executive Chairman, he became Chief Executive and oversaw the restructuring of the Company.
Since leaving First Leisure, Michael Grade has become Chairman of the Octopus Publishing Group, as well as Chairman of Pinewood Studios Ltd. At the end of January 2000, he joined the Board of the Camelot Group, which currently operates the National Lottery licence as well as Ocado. In March 2000 he was made Chairman of Hemscott.NET, a leading supplier of business and investment information over the Internet. He has also become a Non-Executive Director of digitaloctopus.
In 1997 he was appointed Chairman of the Royal National Theatre Development Council and also became a Director of The New Millennium Experience Company. He is a member of the Council of the Royal Albert Hall. In April 2000 he became Chairman of Index on Censorship.
Michael Grade was awarded a CBE in the 1998 New Year’s Honours.
He stepped down from ITV at the end of 2009, and from Ocado in 2013.
For further information or to book Michael Grade, call us on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Michael Grade News
A selection of relevant news related to Michael Grade, Keynote Speakers, Business Speakers, Change and Turnaround Speakers, Leadership Speakers and TV Presenters stories. For more information on Michael Grade or details as to how to book Michael Grade for your corporate event, please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Speakers Take the Stage at Google Zeitgeist
24th May 2013
Speakers took to the stage at this year’s Google Zeitgeist, where they explored the ideas that affect our social, economic, political and cultural surroundings.
Self-Help Books; A Billion Dollar Industry
30th April 2013
Self-help books are increasingly popular among the British public than ever before and an increased number of us are turning to self help books in the hope that they will solve lives problems.
Mike Forde Links Business to Football
18th April 2013
Business speaker and one of the UK’s leading sports executives, Mike Forde has compared the ideas and practices used in professional football to those used in business environments.
Sir Terry Leahy Adjusts to Life After Tesco
11th April 2013
Business speaker and former CEO of Tesco, Sir Terry Leahy stepped down from his position at Tesco in 2011 at the age of 55, he has since started working with several charities, invested in small businesses and written a book.
Noreena Hertz Finishes New Book
4th April 2013
Keynote speaker and leading futurist, Noreena Hertz has finished her most recent book, which will be published in the US and the UK in September 2013.
Rosabeth Moss Kanter: “World’s Most Influential International Thinker”
16th November 2012
HR magazine has voted Rosabeth Moss Kanter the World’s Most Influential International Thinker.
Archie Norman ‘Turnaround King’
17th July 2012
Chairman of ITV and ‘turnround king’ of Asda, Archie Norman is one of Britain’s most prominent businessmen. He speaks to the FT about problem solving in business.
Transforming Public Services by Colin Coulson-Thomas
8th June 2012
Colin Coulson Thomas discusses a five-year investigation uncovering a more affordable route to high performance in a new book-length report.
Colin Coulson-Thomas Says Trying to Change Corporate Cultures Doesn’t Work
16th May 2012
Trying to change corporate cultures can be a waste of time according to Prof. Colin Coulson-Thomas speaking to change programme leaders in the energy sector at a conference in Amsterdam.
Mary Portas Warns of High Street ‘Crisis’
14th December 2011
Retail expert Mary Portas has warned that many UK High Streets may be lost after years of “erosion, neglect and mismanagement”, unless shops and councils work together to regenerate them.
For further information or to book Michael Grade, call us on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
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