Derek Lewis

Background

Derek Lewis was born on July 9, 1946, in Nottingham, England. He is a son of Kenneth and Marjorie (Buick) Lewis. He spent his childhood in North Wales where his father was a headteacher.

Education

After being packed off at 13 to boarding school Lewis studied natural sciences at Queens' College, Cambridge. Having decided that a career in business was for him, he applied for one of the first places at the newly opened London Business School. In 1968 he became a Master of Business Administration when he graduated from London Business School.

Career

Lewis was a finance director at Ford Motor Co in 1967-1982. After, he joined Granada Group as a chief executive. He worked there from 1982 to 1991. In 1992 he founded United Kingdom Gold Television and was a chairperson until 1997. He is a chairperson at Sunsail International Port Solent since 1997. In 1993 he was proposed to become a general director at Her Majesty’s Prison Service. He served there until 1995. He was sacked in 1995 by the Home Secretary Michael Howard after a series of high-profile escapes by IRA prisoners.

Achievements

• In the summer of 1992, Derek Lewis - a highly successful television executive, with a distinguished career in the industry behind him - was approached by a firm of headhunters about the possibility of running the Prison Service. Six months later, Lewis - unable to resist the challenge - was confirmed in the post of Director General by Kenneth Clarke, the then Home Secretary.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Hidden Agendas

    (In the summer of 1992, Derek Lewis - a highly successful ...)

    1997

Connections

In 1969 Lewis married Louise Lewis. They have 2 daughters Annabel and Julia.

Wife:

Louise Lewis

Daughter:

Annabel Lewis

Daughter:

Julia Lewis

References

• Contemporary Authors, Vol. 164