Tim Parker became Chair of the National Trust in November 2014. Tim has enjoyed a long business career as CEO of several well-known companies. After a spell in the Treasury as an economist, he studied at the London Business School, and soon after was appointed as general manager of a subsidiary of Thorn EMI based in Chicago.
In 1989 Tim led the management buy-out of Kenwood, the kitchen appliances company. Subsequently Tim has been CEO of Clarks, the shoe company, Kwik-Fit, the AA and Samsonite. Tim remains Chairman of Samsonite. He is also Chair of the Post Office, Chair of the Board of HM Courts & Tribunals Service and a Trustee of the Royal Academy of Music.
Tim has been Chair of Channel Nine TV in Australia and the Autobar Group, Europe’s largest vending company. He has also served as a non-executive director on the Boards of Legal & General, Alliance Boots and Compass Group. He is also a director and owner of the British Pathé film archive.