The Rt Hon the Lord Heseltine CH
CHAIRMAN, HAYMARKET GROUP BOARD
Michael Ray Dibdin Heseltine was born in 1933. He was educated at Shrewsbury School and at Pembroke College, Oxford, where he read politics, philosophy and economics.
In 1957, Michael founded Haymarket, which is now one of the largest independent magazine companies in the country with extensive interests overseas.
He was a Member of the Parliament in Britain from 1966 to 2001, and a Cabinet Minister in various departments between 1979 and 1986 and between 1990 and 1997. He was Deputy Prime Minister from 1995 to 1997.
Lord Heseltine then rejoined the Haymarket Board of Directors on leaving Government in 1997, and became chairman of the Haymarket Group in March 1999 on the retirement of Lindsay Masters.
His first book, Where There’s a Will, was published in March 1987 and his second, The Challenge of Europe: Can Britain Win?, in May 1989. His political autobiography, Life in the Jungle, appeared in September 2000.
Among other awards, he has been presented with the Publicity Club of London Cup (2005), National Business Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Award (2005), and the PPA Marcus Morris Award, which recognises an exceptional career and outstanding contribution to the UK magazine industry (2003).
He is also a Fellow of the 48 Group Club, in recognition of outstanding contribution to relations with China (2003), Gold Medallist of the Institute of Sheet Metal Engineering (1999) and the Institute of Public Relations’ Presidents Medal (1998). He was made Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1991.
Lord Heseltine is also an enthusiastic gardener and has created an arboretum to house his collection of over 3000 different trees and shrubs.