David Norgrove

Sir David Ronald Norgrove^[2] (born 1948) is an English businessman, former chair of The Pensions Regulator and current chair of PensionsFirst, the Family Justice Board and the Low Pay Commission.^[3]

Early life

Norgrove was born on 23 January 1948 in Peckham, London. He was educated at Christ's Hospital School and read History at Exeter College, Oxford. He gained a diploma in Economics at Cambridge University and then a master's degree in Economics at The London School of Economics.^[4]

Career

Norgrove started his career as an economist at HM Treasury (1972–85), where his time included a secondment to the First National Bank of Chicago.

Norgrove was private secretary to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher between 1985 and 1988.^[5]

In 1988 he joined Marks and Spencer, where he held several positions:^[6] From 1988–99 he was Director of Europe; Worldwide franchising; Menswear and Strategy. In September 1999 he became chairman of Marks & Spencer's Ventures Division and a year later he was appointed to the executive board as Executive director for Strategy, International and Ventures.

Norgrove was heavily involved in the early recovery of Marks and Spencer but in January 2004 he was fired from his role as director of clothing following poor Christmas sales.^[7][8] He continued in his position as chair of the trustees of the Marks & Spencer pension fund until later in the year, playing a role in the attempt by Philip Green to acquire the company.^[5][9]

In March 2004 he was appointed to the board of the British Museum later becoming deputy chairman.^[10] In November 2009 he became the Chairman of The British Museum Friends. He retired as a trustee in 2012.

Norgrove was appointed first chair of The Pensions Regulator between 2005 and 2010^[5] and subsequently named one of the hundred most influential people in the capital markets by Financial News.^[11] In May 2009 Norgrove became chairman of the Low Pay Commission. He is also a member of the Finance Committee of Amnesty International UK.^[12]

Family Justice Review

He chaired the Family Justice Review in 2011–12. This recommended substantial changes to speed up public law proceedings (cases concerning the protection of children) and to help family justice operate better as a system. In private law (divorce and separation) it recommended changes to help couples avoid the need to undertake court proceedings, for example increased use of mediation. Most media attention was paid to a recommendation that there should not be legislation to create a presumption around parental involvement in children's lives after separation. This was controversial particularly with Fathers' groups and has been interpreted by some as a recommendation that fathers should not have equal rights to children^[13]

In 2012 he was appointed as first chair of the Family Justice Board, which brings together the main agencies involved in family justice to promote change and reform of the system.

Personal life

Norgrove is married to Jenny and they have two daughters and a son.^[4][14][15] He is a millionaire and lives in Islington, North London.^[15][16]

Honours

Norgrove was knighted in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to the low paid and the family justice system.^[17][18]

Notes