Peter Hill-Wood
Peter Hill-Wood | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 February 1936 Kensington, London, England |
| Died | 27 December 2018 (aged 82) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Chairman of Arsenal Football Club |
Peter Denis Hill-Wood (25 February 1936 – 27 December 2018) was a prominent British businessman who served as chairman of Arsenal Football Club.
Biography
Born in Kensington, London, Hill-Wood was the son of Denis Hill-Wood and Mary Smith. His family maintained a strong sporting tradition, with his father, three uncles, and grandfather all having played first-class cricket for Derbyshire County Cricket Club.
He received his education at Ludgrove School followed by Eton College, where he was a contemporary of former Arsenal director Sir Roger Gibbs. After completing his service in the Coldstream Guards, Hill-Wood pursued a career in banking, rising to the position of vice-chairman at Hambros Bank and heading its investment division.
Upon retiring from Hambros, he took on directorship roles at Cavenham Ltd and Hellenic and General Trust.
Arsenal chairmanship
Hill-Wood represented the third generation of his family to lead Arsenal, taking over from his father, Denis Hill-Wood (who chaired from 1962 to 1982), and his grandfather, Samuel Hill-Wood (chairman during 1929–1936 and 1946–1949). He joined Arsenal’s board in October 1962 and assumed the chairman role following his father’s passing in 1982. During his tenure, day-to-day management was handled by David Dein along with successive team managers.
Having been a colleague of Chips Keswick at Hambros Bank, Hill-Wood facilitated Keswick’s appointment to Arsenal’s board to enhance the club’s financial connections within the City of London during stadium funding efforts. Over the course of the 1980s and 1990s, he gradually divested his family’s shares first to Dein and later to Stan Kroenke. On 14 June 2013, Hill-Wood resigned as chairman, with Keswick succeeding him.
Other
- In 1960, he participated in first-class cricket representing the Free Foresters Cricket Club.
- Hill-Wood, alongside Chips Keswick, was involved with Business for Sterling.
Personal life
He wed Sally Andrews in 1971, and together they had three children.
Health
On 2 December 2012, Arsenal announced that Hill-Wood had experienced a heart attack and was undergoing treatment in hospital.
Death
Peter Hill-Wood passed away on 27 December 2018 at the age of 82.