David Abell (businessman)
David Abell | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 15, 1942 United Kingdom |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, equity trader |
| Years active | 1962–present |
| Known for | Chairman of Suter Plc and Jourdan Plc; executive roles at British Leyland |
John David Abell (born 15 December 1942), commonly referred to as David Abell, is a British entrepreneur and equity trader. During the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, he held an executive role at British Leyland. From 1978 until 1996, he owned and led Suter Plc as chairman, and since 1997, he has been serving as chairman of Jourdan Plc.
Career
At the outset of his professional journey, Abell was employed by Ford (1962–65), AEI (1965–67), and First National Finance Corporation (1972–73).
Leyland
In 1968, Abell became a senior executive at British Leyland, where he took on responsibilities as treasurer and board member. He later assumed the roles of chairman and CEO at Prestcold, a subsidiary within Leyland. In July 1974, he was appointed managing director and CEO of Leyland Australia, tasked with managing the shutdown of the Waterloo facility and discontinuing production of the Leyland P76 and Marina models. Upon his return to the UK in mid-1975, he was made managing director of British Leyland's Special Products Division (which was subsequently renamed SP Industries). By 1978, he advanced to managing director of BL Commercial Vehicles. His tenure at British Leyland concluded in 1981 following a conflict of interest related to his role in Suter Group’s acquisition of Prestcold.
Suter
In 1978, Abell purchased Suter Electrical and took on the chairmanship from 1981 until the company's sale to Ascot Holdings (currently part of Dow) in 1996. During the late 1980s, the Department of Trade and Industry examined his share transactions; while no illegal activity was found, some statements were deemed misleading.
Under Abell’s leadership, Suter grew by acquiring divisions formerly belonging to SP Industries (Leyland Special Products), including Prestcold and Lyne Printers, a subsidiary of the Nuffield Press.
Jourdan
Abell has been chairman of Jourdan since May 1997, succeeding Keith Whitten. The company is recognized for its Corby Trouser Press. He works closely with managing director Bob Morris, a longtime collaborator. In 2009, Abell orchestrated Jourdan’s withdrawal from the Alternative Investment Market. Throughout the 2000s, his family controlled approximately 30% of Jourdan shares and achieved full control in October 2011 via a leveraged buyout.
In 2002, he briefly held stakes in Coffee Republic and currently serves on the board of St. Helen's Private Equity Plc.
Personal life
The son of Leonard and Irene, Abell is married to Juliana, his third spouse, and has four sons plus one daughter from earlier marriages. He holds a BA degree in economics from Leeds University along with a Diploma in Business Administration from the London School of Economics. Abell is a non-executive director and supporter of the Leicester Tigers rugby team and was on the board of Leicester City football club in 2002. Additionally, he owns racehorses, including the notable Collier Hill.