David Wolfson, Baron Wolfson of Sunningdale

For other people named David Wolfson, see David Wolfson (disambiguation).

David Wolfson, Baron Wolfson of Sunningdale (born 9 November 1935) is a British Conservative politician and businessman.

Early life

The son of Charles and Hylda Wolfson, he was educated at Clifton College and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a Master of Arts in economics and law in 1956. He was further educated in Stanford University, California, where he received a Master of Business Administration in 1959.

Career

Wolfson was director of Great Universal Stores from 1973 to 1978 and from 1993 to 2000, and chairman from 1996 to 2000. In 1978 and 1979 he was Secretary to the Shadow Cabinet and between 1979 and 1985 Chief of Staff of the Political Office, 10 Downing Street. He was chairman of the Alexon Group plc from 1982 to 1986, of Next plc from 1990 to 1998, of GUS from 1996 to 2000, and of William Baird from 2002 to 2003. In 2001, Wolfson was non-executive director of Fibernet, and has been chairman since 2002. For Compco, he was chairman from 1995 to 2003.

Knighted in 1984, he was created a life peer with the title Baron Wolfson of Sunningdale, of Trevose in the County of Cornwall on 26 March 1991. His membership in the House of Lords was terminated on 13 June 2017 as he did not attend a sitting of the House during a session lasting six months or longer.

Family

Wolfson has married twice, firstly Patricia Rawlings (now Baroness Rawlings) in 1962, and after their divorce in 1967, he married Susan Davis in the same year. He has two sons and one daughter by his second wife. One of those sons, Simon, followed in his footsteps both as head of Next and as a Conservative life peer, having been created Baron Wolfson of Aspley Guise.

See also

• Victor Barnett, his cousin
• Leonard Wolfson, Baron Wolfson, his cousin
• Wolfson family

References

• "DodOnline". Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 9 December 2006.