Influential - People - Sir John Harvey-Jones

January 9, 2008

Businessman Sir John Harvey-Jones, who shared his passion for business with millions through the BBC television series “Troubleshooter”, died today aged 83.

Sir John made my influence list as he was one of the first people I ever remember talking with passion and enthusiasm about business. He laid the path for shows like The Apprentice and Dragons’ Den and it’s easy to forget that before Harvey-Jones there was no room on popular TV for business.

Of course before his TV career he had a real business career led by a fundamental belief that our troubles stem from not asking enough of people rather than asking too much.

In 1980 ICI posted its first full-year loss - £20 million - since its formation in 1926. Sir John took office in 1982 streamlining the board, simplifying the organisational structure, dumping prescriptive control procedures and giving people the space they needed to do a good job. He was a firm believer that individuals will rise to any challenge, if only they are given the opportunity to do so. In 1985, under Sir John’s leadership, ICI became the first British industrial company to post a profit of over £1 billion.

In one of the great man’s last interviews he spoke to ‘Management Today’ where he confirmed his belief in empowerment and his regret of not setting up his own company:

‘I do think one has to have a very open mind - I’ve more or less given up on most of the things I really valued, like the importance of manufacturing. Everything except my basic belief in people, in treating them right and giving them the right incentives. And those incentives are bugger all to do with money; they are almost all to do with recognition and trust.’

‘ICI was a wonderful place to be in terms of the chances it gave you, but I wouldn’t have stayed so long. I would have left in the early ’60s and set up my own business. I would like to have been more of an entrepreneur and less of a manager - it’s my only real regret.’

Sir John Harvey-Jones, a wonderfully influential and inspiring man.

HARVEY-JONES IN A MINUTE

1924: Born 16 April, London. Educated Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
1937: Joins Royal Navy. Sees active war service as midshipman on destroyers and submarines
1945: Learns Russian and German, then works in intelligence and for the Cabinet Office
1952: Awarded MBE for Naval Intelligence work
1956: Quits Navy and takes a traineeship at ICI, followed by a succession of executive posts
1973: Appointed to the ICI board
1982: Unexpectedly wins chairmanship of ICI
1986: Installed as Chancellor of the University of Bradford. Board roles at the Economist, Grand Metropolitan, the Wild Fowl Trust, Royal Society of Arts and elsewhere
1987: Retires from ICI
1989: Presents the first of the BBC TV’s Troubleshooter series