John Whittaker (businessman)

John Whittaker
Born	(1942-03-14) March 14, 1942 Bury, Lancashire, England
Occupation	Businessman
Years active	1980s–present
Known for	Chairman of Peel Group

John Whittaker (born 14 March 1942) is a British billionaire and serves as chairman of the Peel Group, a property firm with a focus on investments in North West England. Maintaining a notably low profile, he has been acknowledged as one of the most powerful business figures in Greater Manchester and the North West region by the Manchester Evening News in 2007, and was recognized as the most influential northerner by The Big Issue magazine in 2010.

Early life

Whittaker was born in Bury, Lancashire to parents Jack and May Whittaker. He attended Prior Park College, a Catholic boarding school located in Bath, Somerset. Although he initially contemplated entering the priesthood, he ultimately chose to work within the family enterprise.

Career

During the 1980s, Whittaker orchestrated a controversial acquisition of the Manchester Ship Canal Company, which paved the way for the creation of the Trafford Centre.

In January 2011, Peel Group divested the 1.5 million square foot Trafford Centre to Capital Shopping Centres (now known as Intu Properties) for £1.6 billion. Peel received £636 million in shares as part of the transaction, and Whittaker took on the role of deputy chairman on CSC's board. He stepped down from this position in July 2020 following Intu’s entry into administration.

Whittaker’s fortune increased from £1.01 billion to £2.07 billion in 2010, primarily driven by the sale of the Trafford Centre.

The Peel Group introduced the Ocean Gateway initiative in 2013, a £50 billion redevelopment plan intended to revitalize 50 miles of industrial land stretching between Liverpool’s port and Salford Docks. Whittaker envisioned this Manchester project as a hub for Chinese businesses and accompanied the UK Prime Minister on a trade mission to Beijing in 2010.

By mid-2019, Peel began selling its holdings in Peel Ports and Liverpool Airport to mitigate losses incurred at Intu Properties, where it owned a 27.3% stake.

Business reputation

In 2010, when Simon Property Group attempted to acquire the Trafford Centre, insiders described Whittaker as "formidable opposition" and praised him as "highly astute, exceptionally clever, and an excellent businessman." A notable example of his strategic insight was convincing the BBC to select MediaCityUK at Salford Quays over three other sites in Manchester. This decision attracted independent production firms, enabling Peel Group to earn substantial income through rental and leasing arrangements within the development.

Personal life

Whittaker lives on the Isle of Man and is father to four children. Known for avoiding public attention, he seldom participates in interviews. The Sunday Times Rich List estimated his net worth at £2 billion in 2025.