- Charles Powell
:"This article is about the British diplomat, politician and businessman. For the American actor, see
Charles Powell (actor) ."Charles David Powell, Baron Powell, KCMG (born 6 June 1941), son of
Air Vice-Marshal John Powell OBE, is a diplomat, politician and businessman. He served as a key foreign policy advisor to British Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher during the 1980s. His brother, Jonathan Powell, was chief of staff toTony Blair throughout his period as Prime Minister, from 1997 to 2007.Biography
Educated at
The King's School, Canterbury andNew College, Oxford from where he graduated in 1963 with a BA in Modern History.Diplomatic career
He joined the Diplomatic Service in 1963 where he served in various posts until he became
Private Secretary toMargaret Thatcher (1983 to 1990) and then Private Secretary toJohn Major (1990 to 1991). During his time working for Mrs Thatcher, he became one of her most trusted foreign policy aides, and helped broker the controversialal-Yamamah arms deal with Saudi Arabia. cite news |title=BAE Files: Charles Powell|http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/jun/07/bae20|publisher=BBC|date=2007-06-07 |accessdate=2008-03-18]Business career
Since 1992 he has been an international businessman. Using his experience gained during his years in government, he has picked up several lucrative directorships and consultancies. He is Chairman of
Sagitta Asset Management Limited (asset management) andLouis Vuitton U.K. Ltd. (luggage and leather goods). Prior to his current positions, Lord Powell was Chairman ofPhillips Fine Art Auctioneers (art, jewelry, and furniture auction) and Senior Director ofJardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. and associated companies (multinational business group). Other directorships:Caterpillar Inc. ;LVMH Moet-Hennessy Louis Vuitton ;Mandarin Oriental International Ltd. ;Textron Corporation ;Schindler Holding Ltd. , andYell Group plc. Lord Powell has been a director of Caterpillar since 2001. He is also a signatory of theHenry Jackson Society .Brunei controversy
In 2005, it was revealed
Tony Blair was using Powell as his special envoy toBrunei , and had been acting in the unpaid role for several years. This was controversial because Powell was on the payroll ofBAE Systems , and the company was at the time in dispute with Brunei over the purchase of three warships. Lord Powell denied a conflict of interest over both his links to BAE, and the fact his brother Jonathan Powell was serving as Tony Blair's chief of staff. [cite news |title=Blair's special envoy to Brunei on BAE payroll|http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/oct/08/bae.whitehall|publisher=Guardian|date=2005-10-08 |accessdate=2008-03-18]House of Lords
He currently sits as a life peer in The
House of Lords . Although associated with the Conservative Party, Lord Powell sits as aCrossbench peer.Personal life
He married
Carla Bonardi in 1964. They have two sons.He has three brothers, Chris, Roderick and Jonathan Powell, the Chief of Staff to Prime Minister
Tony Blair , a member of the Labour Party. His surname is pronounced POLE although his brother Jonathan pronounces his POWELL. [cite news |title=What Happened to Team Blair?|http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7138065.stm|publisher=BBC|date=2007-12-27 |accessdate=2007-12-07]Honours
*Charles Powell became Sir Charles Powell in 1990 when he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG).
*In 2001 he was awarded the Public Service Star by the government ofSingapore .
*He was created alife peer in the 2000New Year Honours List . His full title is "Baron Powell of Bayswater of Canterbury in the County of Kent".In the media
Powell was interviewed about the rise of
Thatcherism for the 2006BBC TV documentary series "Tory! Tory! Tory! ".In popular culture
Powell was portrayed by
Terence Harvey in the 2004BBC production of "The Alan Clark Diaries ".References
External links
* [http://www.atlanticpartnership.org/index.php?fuseaction=StaffBio&id=38 Atlantic Partnership Staff Biography]
* [http://www.dodonline.co.uk/engine.asp?lev1=4&lev2=38&menu=81&biog=y&id=26501 Dod's personal biography]
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