Former CEO, presenter of BBC TV's I'll show them Who's Boss

Sir Gerry Robinson began his career in 1965 in the cost office of Lesney Products, (Matchbox Toys) after leaving St Mary’s Seminary at Castlehead. During his time at Lesney he progressed through various accounting roles to become Chief Management Accountant in 1974. He also, during that time, qualified as an ACMA.

In 1974 he moved to Lex Service Group as the Management Accountant for Lex's Volvo network. By 1980 he had become Financial Controller and Finance Director of Lex Industrial Distribution and Hire. He left Lex in 1980 to become Finance Director of Grand Metropolitan's UK Coca Cola business.

A year later he became its Sales & Marketing Director and then became its Managing Director. In 1983 he was appointed Managing Director of Grand Metropolitan's troubled International Services business and went on to become Chief Executive of the whole Contract Services division which, in that year, had lost some £10.5m.

In 1987 he led the UK's then largest management buy-out with the £163m purchase of the Division, subsequently renamed the Compass Group. The Compass Group was later floated on the London market.

Sir Gerry Robinson joined Granada in October 1991 as Chief Executive and became Chairman in 1996 (retired in February 2001). He has also been Chairman of BSkyB PLC, ITN, Arts Council England and Allied Domecq PLC.

He has led a business series for the BBC, “I’ll Show Them Who’s Boss” and has written a book of the same title on business leadership.

Sir Gerry was awarded a Knighthood in the 2003 New Year’s Honours for Services to the Arts and Business.