Sir Christopher Lewinton

Bio

Over 30+ years experience in senior executive positions including as Chairman and CEO of the TI Group plc. Stepped down as Chairman of TI in December 2000, following its £4.5 billion merger with Smiths Industries. Led the TI Group for 14 years, during which time he transformed the once poorly regarded conglomerate into a world leading, specialised engineering company and took it back into the FTSE 100. Through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions, TI developed market-leading positions globally in the Automotive, Aerospace and Industrial sectors . The market value of the company rose from a low point of £250 million in 1986 to a peak of £3.3 billion in the late 90s, reflecting the success of the strategy. In January 2001, joined J F Lehman & Co, a New York and Washington based private equity firm and is currently Chairman, J F Lehman Europe and is a member of the Operating Executive Board. Member of the Advisory Board of Metalmark/Morgan Stanley Capital Partners, a Senior Adviser to Compass Advisers and is the Chairman of Camper & Nicholsons Marina Investments Ltd. Was also, from 1994 to 1998, a Director of Messier-Dowty, the aircraft landing gear joint venture between TI Group and Snecma, the French aerospace group. Before joining TI Group, was Chief Executive of the Wilkinson Sword Group, a member of the main board of Allegheny International which acquired Wilkinson Sword in 1978 and was the London-based Chairman of the International Operations of Allegheny, a £3 billion US public company headquartered in Pittsburgh. Served as a non-executive Director of Reed Elsevier, the Anglo-Dutch publishing company, from 1993 to 1999 and between 1995 and 1999 was a Director of the Supervisory Board of Mannesman AG, the German engineering and telecommunications group. Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society in July 1993. Doctor of Technology by Brunel University in July 1997.