Honorary
Doctorates |
Peter Blackburn received an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration at Leeds Met
View images of Peter Blackburn and Professor Rosabeth Kanter receiving their Honorary Awards
Successful businessman Peter Blackburn, who has made a major contribution
to commerce regionally and nationally, received an Honorary
Doctorate of Business Administration, at Leeds Met on Tuesday 12
July at 5.00pm.
Peter Blackburn CBE said: “I am delighted and truly honoured to receive this Honorary Doctorate.”
He continued by commenting that whilst his personal connections with Leeds Met are recent, through the Harrogate International Festival which Leeds Met is involved in, he is impressed with the University in its approach to life long learning.
“The University’s partnership with us [the Festival] underlines its growing commitment to North Yorkshire and the Dales,” he said.
Peter Blackburn also offered three pieces of advice to the graduands: “Never forget where you come from”: “Always keep your feet on the ground”, and; “Never ask anyone to do anything you wouldn’t do yourself.”
Born in Halifax, he was educated at Poitiers University, the University of Leeds and Harvard Business School. His business career began with the Bradford accountants, R S Dawson in 1962 as an articled clerk. Four years later he took his initial step into the food and confectionery industry when he became works accountant at John Mackintosh & Son in Halifax before being appointed financial controller at the Mackintosh Head Office in Norwich.
Between 1972 and 1975 he worked in the Rowntree Mackintosh Overseas Division in York as Chief Accountant and Finance Director. During the next decade he enjoyed rapid career development, as his managerial talents became increasingly recognised. He was appointed European Division Assistant Managing Director and then Managing Director (1980). In 1982 he was appointed Group Board Director of Rowntree Mackintosh plc, becoming Joint Chairman and later Chairman of the UK and Eire Region between 1985 and 1988.
After the acquisition of Rowntree by Nestle in June 1988, Peter Blackburn became Chairman of Rowntree UK and Head of Nestle’s International Chocolate and Confectionery Strategy Group. He was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive of Nestle UK in April 1991. In 1996 he became President/Directeur General of Nestle France before returning to Nestle UK in late 1997. He retired from the company in June 2001.
In November 2001 he became a non-executive director of Northern Foods plc and became the company’s Chairman in January 2002. He is also a non-executive director of Compass Group plc and SIG plc.
In January 2000 Peter Blackburn became President of the Food and Drink Federation, retiring from this position in December 2002. He was President of the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (ISBA) from July 1998 until July 2000.
Peter Blackburn was actively involved for many years in fostering closer links between business and education. Between 1985 and 1989 he was Chairman of the Council of the Festival of Languages and Young Linguists Competitions and was the National President of the Modern Language Association for two years in the mid-eighties. In 1989 he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Linguists and a member of the Company of Merchant Adventurers of the City of York.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a Fellow of the Institute of Grocery Distribution.
Peter Blackburn was awarded the CBE for services to the Food and
Drink Industry in 2003. He is Chairman of the Harrogate International
Festival, which, now in its fortieth year, has been acclaimed by
The Times as the North of England’s leading arts festival.
Leeds Met is now an important partner for the festival.
