David Robert Meller CBE (born December 1959) is a British businessman, and the sponsor of an academy trust, and a member of the Department for Education's board of directors, until the scandal surrounding the Presidents Club, of which he was the joint chairman, led to his resignation in January 2018.
David Meller | |
|---|---|
| Born | David Robert Meller December 1959 (age 64–65) |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Co-chairman, Presidents Club |
Early life
editDavid Robert Meller was born in December 1959.[1] He is the son of Percival Meller (1919–2016), and his wife Anita.[2][3] He has a brother, Michael Meller.[3]
Meller has said that he attended a comprehensive school, earned four O-levels and "struggled with dyslexia".[4]
Career
editIn 1987, Meller was the joint chief executive of Julius A. Meller Ltd of London, a "diversified manufacturing company", from which his father had retired.[2] The company was founded by his grandfather, Julius Aaron Meller.[2]
In 2013 he was chairman of the Meller Group, a cosmetics firm.[5] As of 2018 Meller was helping to "run his family's company", described as "a luxury goods company."[4][6]
Meller founded the Meller Educational Trust, which runs four schools and a university technical college.[7]
In June 2013, Meller joined the Department for Education as a non-executive board member.[8][7] He also served as chair of the Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network and co-chair of the Apprenticeship Delivery Board from January 2016.[7][4]
In 2009 he set up the Meller Educational Trust.[9] The trust runs four schools and a university technical college, and served as chair of the National Apprenticeship Ambassador Network and the Apprenticeship Delivery Board.[7] In 2013, he was the "main backer" of a new school opening that autumn in Elstree.[5]
In January 2018 a scandal arose surrounding the Presidents Club, of which Meller was the joint chairman.[10] Following calls by MPs and others, he resigned from the Department for Education's board of directors, and the apprenticeship delivery board, the day after the story broke in the Financial Times.[10][11][12] Meller also resigned as a trustee of the Mayor's Fund for London.[13]
Honours
editMeller received a CBE in the 2018 New Year's honours list.[7][4]
Politics
editMeller has been a "generous Conservative party donor".[4]
Meller was a trustee of the think tank Policy Exchange, founded by Michael Gove, and finance chair of Gove's 2016 Conservative leadership campaign.[4]
PPE Contracts
editDuring the COVID pandemic, Meller's company, Meller Designs, was awarded six PPE contracts worth £164m through the VIP lane. [14]
Personal life
editOn 24 October 1987, Meller married Wendy Susan Frumkes, the daughter of Herbert M. Frumkes of New York, president of Tradex Brokerage Service Inc, at New York's Metropolitan Club.[2]
In May 2015, Meller sold a 10,000-square-foot (930 m2), six-storey Grade II listed Arts and Crafts-style brick house at 79 Mount Street, Mayfair, London to the Qatari Royal Family for £40 million.[15]
References
edit- ^ "David Robert MELLER - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d "DAVID MELLER, EXECUTIVE, WEDS WENDY S. FRUMKES". The New York Times. 25 October 1987. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ a b "Obituaries: Percy Meller" (PDF). Hampstead Synagogue Review 2017/18. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f Adams, Richard (24 January 2018). "David Meller, the Tory donor 'desperate to be part of establishment'". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ a b "The Power 1000 - London's most influential people 2013: Crusaders". standard.co.uk. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ Marriage, Madison (23 January 2018). "Men Only: Inside the charity fundraiser where hostesses are put on show". Financial Times. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "David Meller resigns from DfE board following Presidents Club allegations". feweek.co.uk. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ "David Meller - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ "The Meller Educational Trust - Gov.uk".
- ^ a b "The Presidents Club, David Meller, and the rise of the education philanthropist". www.newstatesman.com. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ "Jewish groups' discomfort at links with Presidents Club scandal". The JC. 25 January 2018.
- ^ "David Meller resigns from DfE board following Presidents Club allegations". schoolsweek.co.uk. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ "Businessman David Meller quits education post amid Presidents Club Charity dinner 'sexism' storm". standard.co.uk. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ "Michael Gove backer won £164m in PPE contracts after 'VIP lane' referral". the Guardian. 2021-11-16. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
- ^ "Qataris buy £40m six storey Mayfair mansion". standard.co.uk. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2018.