Ken Morrison
Sir Kenneth Duncan Morrison | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 October 1931 Bradford, England |
| Died | 1 February 2017 (aged 85) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, businessman |
| Known for | Life President and former chairman of Morrisons |
Sir Kenneth Duncan Morrison CBE (20 October 1931 – 1 February 2017) was a prominent English entrepreneur, Life President, and former chairman of Morrisons (Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC), recognized as the fifth largest supermarket chain in the United Kingdom. He was the son of William Morrison, who established the company.
Early and private life
Born in Bradford as the youngest offspring of William Murdoch Morrison and Hilda Morrison (née Ryder), Ken was raised alongside five older sisters. His family operated a modest grocery business founded in 1899. While studying at Bradford Grammar School, he gained practical business exposure by assisting in the family grocery during school breaks, undertaking duties such as overseeing market stalls and inspecting egg quality.
Following his National Service with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, he was discharged in 1952. At 26, due to his father’s declining health, Morrison assumed responsibility for managing the family enterprise.
He received a CBE in 1990 and was knighted in the 2000 New Year Honours for his contributions to food retailing. According to the Sunday Times Rich List 2007, his family’s wealth was valued at £1,595 million, positioning them 35th among the UK’s wealthiest individuals. The family maintained a 15.5% ownership stake in Morrisons. By 2013, their net worth was estimated at £1.05 billion, ranking them 83rd on the list of Britain’s richest.
Morrison lived at Myton Hall, Myton-upon-Swale, North Yorkshire, together with his wife Lynne and their two youngest children.
Business career
By 1956, Ken Morrison had become chairman and managing director of a small collection of stores that served as the foundation for what evolved into a leading UK retail chain and Yorkshire’s largest publicly listed company.
Although the business carried his father’s name, Morrisons’ headquarters—named "Hilmore House"—honors his mother. Initially situated on Thornton Road, Hilmore House moved to more spacious offices on Gain Lane after the acquisition of Safeway in 2004.
Following the Safeway purchase, Morrison encountered investor criticism related to integration difficulties. In 2001, he described Safeway as an "indigestible meal" for his supermarket group. The firm issued five profit warnings after the acquisition but subsequently returned to profitability. By September 2006, Morrisons achieved a half-year pre-tax profit of £134.2 million for the 25 weeks ending 23 July 2006—a record performance that helped restore shareholder confidence. Morrison held the distinction of being the longest-serving chairman among UK top 100 public companies.
In June 2006, he declared his intention to relinquish executive duties effective from 4 September, appointing Dutch national Marc Bolland as chief executive officer. He planned to resign from his roles as chairman and director in January 2008 and take on the honorary position of Life President. His formal departure occurred on 13 March 2008.
Death
Ken Morrison passed away on 1 February 2017 at age 85 following a short illness.