Sir John Chippendale "Chips" Lindley Keswick (2 February 1940 – 17 April 2024) was a British merchant banker and member of the Keswick family who control Jardine Matheson, founded by William Jardine. He was chairman of Arsenal Football Club from June 2013 until his retirement in May 2020.[2]
Chips Keswick | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Chippendale Lindley Keswick 2 February 1940 London, England |
| Died | 17 April 2024 (aged 84) |
| Education | Eton College |
| Alma mater | University of Aix-Marseille |
| Occupation | Merchant banker |
| Known for | Former chairman of Hambros Bank, director of the Bank of England, former chairman of Arsenal FC[1] |
| Spouse | Lady Sarah Ramsay |
| Children | 3 |
| Father | Sir William Johnstone "Tony" Keswick |
| Relatives | Sir Henry Keswick (brother) Simon Keswick (brother) |
Early life and education
editPart of the Keswick family business dynasty, John Keswick was born on 2 February 1940,[3] as the son of Sir William Johnstone "Tony" Keswick (1903–1990) and Mary Lindley, and the grandson of Henry Keswick. He was educated at Eton College and the University of Aix-Marseilles.[3]
Business career
editKeswick was chairman of Hambros Bank from 1986 to 1998.[4][failed verification][5][failed verification] He was knighted for services to banking in the 1993 New Year Honours.[6]
He was a director of Arsenal Football Club from November 2005, and the chairman from August 2013, when he succeeded Peter Hill-Wood,[2] until his retirement in May 2020.[2][7]
Personal life
editKeswick married Lady Sarah Ramsay, daughter of the 16th Earl of Dalhousie, in 1966.[3] They have three sons: David, Tobias and Adam.[citation needed] The family are friends of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.[8] Lady Sarah is one of the official "Queen's companions".[9]
Keswick was a member of gentleman's clubs White's[citation needed] and the City University Club.[citation needed] He has supported "Business for Sterling", and sat on the board of corporate donors to the Conservative Party.[citation needed] In December 2013, the pro-union group Better Together released the names of individuals who have made major donations to their funds, and Keswick was revealed to have donated £23,000 to the campaign.[10]
Keswick was a keen racehorse owner[11] and hunter.[12]
Keswick's elder brother Henry and younger brother Simon Keswick are chairman and director of Jardine Matheson Holdings.[13]
Keswick died on 17 April 2024, at the age of 84.[14] His memorial service, held in May 2024 in Knightsbridge, was attended by the King and Queen.[15]
References
edit- ^ "Arsenal's new chairman Sir Chips Keswick has even posher name than Peter Hill-Wood". Mirror Online. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ a b c "Arsenal: Sir Chips Keswick retires as club chairman". BBC Sport. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ a b c Europa Publications (2003). The International Who's Who 2004. Psychology Press. pp. 876–. ISBN 978-1-85743-217-6 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Stocks". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ^ "The Arsenal Board". Arsenal FC. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
- ^ UK list: "No. 53153". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 31 December 1992. p. 2.
- ^ "Chairman Sir Chips Keswick retires". Arsenal FC. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
- ^ "Among friends: Inside the new King and Queen Consort's inner circle". Tatler. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
- ^ Coughlan, Sean (27 November 2022). "Camilla scraps ladies-in-waiting in modernising move". BBC News. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- ^ "Scottish independence: Better Together reveals donor list". BBC News. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ Innes, Richard (3 September 2017). "Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick reveals he's not a huge football fan - Arsenal supporters not best pleased". Mirror Online. MGN. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ Woolf, Marie; Rowe, Mark (11 July 1999). "Pro-hunting lobby in ploy to fix polls". The Independent. ESI Media. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ "The Group > Directors". Jardines. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ^ "Sir Chips Keswick". The Times. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "King Charles and Queen Camilla pay their respects at the funeral of Arsenal legend Sir Chips Keswick". Tatler. Retrieved 17 June 2024.