Niall FitzGerald

Niall FitzGerald, KBE (born 13 September 1945 in County Sligo) is an Irish businessman. FitzGerald grew up in Limerick, Ireland and was educated at St Munchin's College in Limerick. He graduated with a degree in Commerce from University College Dublin. Until the end of May 2011,^[1] FitzGerald was the Deputy Chairman of Thomson Reuters since April 2008.

FitzGerald spent over 30 years of his career with Unilever, in a variety of commercial and financial jobs in several countries, including Ireland, the Netherlands, South Africa, the US and the UK. In the early 1980s he became CEO of Unilever's foods business in South Africa and thereafter returned to London as Unilever Group Treasurer.

In 1987, he joined the Boards of Unilever PLC and Unilever NV, serving as Finance Director, Foods Director and Detergents Director. FitzGerald was later appointed as Chairman and CEO in 1996, and continued this role until September 2004.

In 2003, FitzGerald joined the Board of Reuters as a non-executive director, and became Chairman of Reuters in October 2004. In 2006, he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the British Museum. In April 2008, he became the Deputy co-Chairman of Thomson Reuters following the creation of the new company. In November 2008, FitzGerald was appointed Chairman of Hakluyt & Company. He also co-chairs the Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF).

FitzGerald is a member of the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum and also a Trustee of the Leverhulme Trust. FitzGerald is also a member of the Advisory Board of Spencer Stuart and a Senior Adviser to Allen & Co.

Board Mandates

FitzGerald has been appointed multiple roles during his career, including:

Chairman of

• The Nelson Mandela Legacy Trust (UK) (2004–2008)
• The International Business Council of the World Economic Forum (2006–2008)
• The Conference Board (2003–2005)
• CBI Europe Committee

Co-Chairman of

• Transatlantic Business Dialogue (TABD) (2004–2005)
• Investment Climate Facility for Africa (2006–2010)

Non-executive director of

• Merck (2000–2003)
• Ericsson (2000–2002)
• Bank of Ireland (1990–1999)
• Prudential Corporation (1992–1999)

President of

• The Advertising Association (2000–2005)

He was also a member of

• International Investment Advisory Council of South Africa
• Advisory Board of Tsinghua University
• International Advisory Board of the Council on Foreign Relations
• Kok Commission on the Lisbon Agenda
• Accounting Standards Review Committee
• International Policy Council for Agriculture and Trade

Awards

FitzGerald was created an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2002, and holds a number of Honorary Doctorates from American, British and Irish universities.

Personal life

Fitzgerald is married to Ingrid and they have a 9-year old daughter, Gabriella. He has 3 children from a previous marriage: Tara, Colin and Aaron.

References

1. ^ "Niall FitzGerald KBE". http://www.cmi.eu.com/mentors/niall_fitzGerald.php. Retrieved 20 Jul 2011. 

External links

• Biodata

Persondata
Name	Fitzgerald, Niall
Alternative names
Short description	Irish Businessman
Date of birth	13 September 1945
Place of birth	County Sligo, Ireland
Date of death
Place of death