Sir Michael Richardson Angus DL (5 May 1930 – 13 March 2010) was a British businessman, best known as chair of Unilever.

Biography

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Angus was born in West Ashford, Kent[1] and raised in the Cotswolds near to Cirencester, and educated at Marling School, Stroud, Gloucestershire. Angus graduated in mathematics from Bristol University.

Career

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Joining Anglo-Dutch conglomerate Unilever straight from university, he spent most of his career in the company's toiletries businesses (soaps and toothpaste) in France and Britain. In 1979 he moved to Lever Brothers in New York City, where he spent four years cleaning house at the Lever Brothers subsidiary. He returned to UK as the joint-chairman alongside Floris Maljers.[2]

Other positions

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Angus was President of the Confederation of British Industry from 7 May 1992 to May 1994. Sir Michael's other appointments include: –

Angus was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire in 1997. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Bristol in 1990 and another Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Buckingham in 1994.[4]

The Greenbury Committee (1995)

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Sir Michael was a member of the influential Greenbury Committee which reviewed the processes and regulations surrounding executive remuneration.[5] The report, which encouraged more disclosure and reporting, was later found to have increased rather than decreased levels of top executive pay.[6]

Personal life

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Married to Isabel, the couple had three children. They lived on their organic farm in North Cerney, from which they marketed cheese made from their herd of goats. Angus was an acknowledged wine buff.[7] He died aged 79 in his home on 13 March 2010.[8] Lady Angus died in 2016.[9]

References

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  1. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916–2007
  2. ^ "THE BIGGEST BOSSES 16. FLORIS MALJERS AND MICHAEL ANGUS UNILEVER PULLING TOGETHER a TWO-PART COMPANY - August 3, 1987". Archived from the original on 16 February 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  3. ^ "Royal Agricultural University". Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  4. ^ Who's Who 1995. A&C Black Publishers Ltd. 1995. ISBN 0713639954.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  5. ^ Adeney, Martin (15 April 2010). "Sir Michael Angus obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  6. ^ Harvey, Charles; Maclean, Mairi; Price, Michael (1 June 2020). "Executive remuneration and the limits of disclosure as an instrument of corporate governance" (PDF). Critical Perspectives on Accounting. 69: 102089. doi:10.1016/j.cpa.2019.06.003. ISSN 1045-2354. S2CID 199168634.
  7. ^ Adney, Michael (15 April 2010). "Sir Michael Angus obituary". Guardian. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Michael ANGUS Obituary (2010) - London, City of London - the Times". Legacy.com.
  9. ^ Lady Isabel Angus
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