Charles Allen, Baron Allen of Kensington

Education

Allen was educated at Bellshill Academy, a state school in the town of Bellshill in North Lanarkshire in central Scotland. He did not attend university, and says of his life, "It's been an amazing journey considering I left school at 17 with no job to go to".

Career

Allen joined Granada plc in 1991, originally as CEO of Granada Television, before becoming Group Chief Executive in 1996. During his time at Granada, he was instrumental in the takeover of Forte Group for £3.9 billion in 1996, and the takeovers of LWT and Yorkshire-Tyne Tees Television in 1994 and 1999 respectively. In 2001 Granada Group merged with Compass to form Granada Compass, then demerged into Granada Media plc and Compass Group. He remained with Granada when the two companies demerged, and became Executive Chairman of Granada plc in 2001. When Granada merged with Carlton Communications in 2004 to form ITV plc, Allen became the new company's Chief Executive.

In 2006, Allen stepped down after fifteen years with the company.

From 2006 to 2008, Allen was previously chief advisor to the British Home Office. He has also been a senior advisor to Goldman Sachs Private Equity, non-executive director of Endemol and Virgin Media and executive chairman of EMI.

As of 2018, he is chairman of ISS Group, 2 Sisters Food Group and Global Group — which owns Capital, Heart, Classic FM, LBC, Radio X and Gold — as well as advisory chairman of Moelis & Company.

Allen chaired the 2002 Commonwealth Games. He was a member of the London 2012 Olympic bid team and a director of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. He was also Mayor of the Olympic Village.

In May 2021, it was announced that Allen would be the next chairman of the Balfour Beatty construction group, succeeding Philip Aiken from 20 July 2021.

Following criticism of the THG's governance arrangements, Allen replaced Matt Moulding as chairman of THG plc in March 2022.

In November 2024 Allen was named as the next chair of the British Horseracing Authority and will take over the role from 1 June 2025.

Honours

Allen was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2003 New Year Honours "for services to the XVII Commonwealth Games". He was knighted in the 2012 New Year Honours "for services to the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics".

On 1 August 2013, it was announced that Allen was to become a Labour peer in a list of new appointments to the House of Lords. He was created a Life Peer on 2 October 2013 taking the title Baron Allen of Kensington, of Kensington in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

In May 2016, Allen was appointed as a member of the Lords Communications Committee.

In 2005 he was awarded the Freedom of the City of Liverpool.

Personal life

Allen lives in Kensington with his partner of more than 20 years, Michael, an architect.

References

References

1. (8 August 2006). "The Charles Allen years". The Guardian.
2. "Board of Directors". [[Tesco]].
3. (22 March 2022). "THG hires ex-ITV boss Lord Allen as first external chairman in push to repair relations with the City".
4. Jane Martinson. (9 December 2005). "Charles Allen: a survivor in the minefield of the media". [[The Guardian]].
5. Richard Dunnett. (5 January 2016). "Global Radio chairman Lord Allen on Brexit, boardrooms and the BBC". Director.co.uk.
6. [http://www.itvplc.com/itv/about/board/#allen ITV plc] {{webarchive. link. (28 November 2006 , accessed 6 July 2006.)
7. (16 January 2009). "Charles Allen: a survivor in the minefield of the media". [[The Guardian]].
8. "Lord Allen of Kensington".
9. (13 May 2021). "Labour peer to chair Balfour Beatty". The Construction Index.
10. (13 November 2024). "BHA appoints candidate of 'outstanding calibre' as Lord Allen is confirmed as its next chair". Racing Post.
11. {{London Gazette. (31 December 2002)
12. {{London Gazette. (31 December 2011)
13. {{London Gazette. (21 August 2012)
14. Craig, Jon. (2013-08-01). "JCB Boss Sir Anthony Bamford Made Tory Peer". Sky News.
15. {{London Gazette. (4 October 2013)
16. (13 October 2005). "Business Diary". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
17. (16 March 2014). "Lord Allen: Putting an obsessive attitude to work – and making it pay". [[The Independent]].