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Not to be confused with John Timpson (1928–2005), who was a British journalist.

Sir William John Anthony Timpson CBE (born 24 March 1943)[1] is a British businessman, the chairman and owner of Timpson, a UK shoe repair chain with over 2000 shops.

Early life and career

Timpson was born in 1943, and educated at Oundle School and the University of Nottingham.[2] He began his professional career as a management trainee at Clarks, before moving on to become a shoe buyer for his family's business, William Timpson Ltd., in 1965.[1] He was appointed a director of Timpson in 1968, and remained with the company after his father Anthony was ousted as chairman five years later, at which point it was acquired for £28,600,000 by United Drapery Stores.[3] After leading a management buyout, Timpson was himself installed as the firm's chairman in 1985.[1]

Timpson now has a weekly management column in The Daily Telegraph and has written several books about his management style. According to The Sunday Times Rich List in 2019, he is worth £210 million.[4]

Politics

During the EU referendum in 2016, Timpson gave his public support for leaving the EU and stated that it is "a risk worth taking".[5]

Personal life

Timpson lives in Cheshire.[6][7] Together with his wife Alex, who died on 5 January 2016, he had three children, adopted two more, and fostered another 90.[8][9]

His youngest son, Edward Timpson, is the MP for Eddisbury in Cheshire, and was previously MP for Crewe and Nantwich, also in Cheshire.

Timpson is an avid Manchester City supporter.[10]

He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2004 Birthday Honours for services to the retail sector,[11] and was knighted in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to business and fostering.[12][13]

Timpson's late aunt, Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw, who died in 2014 aged 101, was a former Lord Mayor of Manchester, a Freeman of the City and a mathematician, and has been described as "one of the most distinguished Mancunians of her era."[6]

Publications

  • High Street Heroes: The Story of British Retail in 50 People, Icon Books (2015)
  • Ask John: Straight-talking, common sense from the front line of management; Paperback, Icon Books (2014)
  • Upside Down Management, John Wiley & Sons (2010)
  • How to Ride a Giraffe, Caspian Publishing (2008)
  • Dear James: Secrets of Success from a Management Maverick, Caspian Publishing (2000)

References

  1. ^ a b c "TIMPSON, Sir (William) John (Anthony)". Who's Who. Vol. 2023 (online ed.). A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ "Meet The Timpsons by Timpson". Timpson. 23 January 1929. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  3. ^ David Teather (3 April 2009). "John Timpson, the cobbler who is showing his rivals a clean pair of heels". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Rich List 2019: profiles 553-599 featuring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas". The Times. Times Newspapers. 12 May 2019. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 19 August 2019. (subscription required)
  5. ^ "'Maverick' shoe magnate John Timpson backs Brexit". The Telegraph. 26 March 2017. (subscription required)
  6. ^ a b King, Ray (15 May 2017). "Rewards come in many ways for Manchester multi-millionaire John Timpson". I Love Manchester. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  7. ^ Scott, Caroline (28 January 2018). "A Life in the Day: John Timpson, the shoe-repair businessman". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 5 May 2021.(subscription required)
  8. ^ "Keynote Speaker – John Timpson CBE". Diocese of St Asaph. 21 October 2015. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Alex Timpson, children's campaigner - obituary". The Telegraph. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2016.(subscription required)
  10. ^ "Business Profile: Timpson, the eccentric cobbler". The Telegraph. 30 March 2003. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  11. ^ United Kingdom list: "No. 57315". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 2004. p. 8.
  12. ^ "No. 61962". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 2017. p. B2.
  13. ^ Quinn, James (7 June 2017). "Knighthood for John Timpson, the cobbler who fostered 90 children". The Telegraph. Retrieved 17 June 2017.(subscription required)
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