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Charles Allen
Photo: ©House of Lords / photography by Roger Harris, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons12

Charles Allen

British businessman and broadcaster (born 1957)

Charles Lamb Allen, Baron Allen of Kensington (born 4 January 1957) is a British businessman, broadcaster, and chairman of Balfour Beatty, Invictus Games, THG plc, Global Radio and Advisory chairman at Moelis & Company. Lord Allen was chief executive of Granada Group from 1996 to 2000, executive chairman of Granada Media plc from 2000 to 2004, chief executive of ITV plc from its formation in 2004 until 2007, and chairman of the music company EMI. He was chairman of Endemol, 2 Sisters Food Group and ISS, a non-executive director of Tesco and Virgin Media.2

From Wikipedia’s article on Charles Allen (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Jan 4, 1957.1

About

In March 2012, he was appointed by Ed Miliband, the leader of the Labour Party, to the position of chairman of the executive board of the party. He has been chairman of the British Red Cross.

From Wikipedia’s article on Charles Allen, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2

Companies

Early life and education

Allen was educated at Bellshill Academy, a state school in the town of Bellshill in North Lanarkshire in central Scotland. He did not attend university, and says of his life, "It's been an amazing journey considering I left school at 17 with no job to go to".

From Wikipedia’s article on Charles Allen (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Career

Occupation: politician, businessperson.6

  • Since 2013Member of the House of Lords4
  • 2004 to 2007Chief executive, ITV plc3
  • Date not recordedChair, ISS5

Allen joined Granada plc in 1991, originally as CEO of Granada Television, before becoming Group Chief Executive in 1996. During his time at Granada, he was instrumental in the takeover of Forte Group for £3.9 billion in 1996, and the takeovers of LWT and Yorkshire-Tyne Tees Television in 1994 and 1999 respectively. In 2001 Granada Group merged with Compass to form Granada Compass, then demerged into Granada Media plc and Compass Group. He remained with Granada when the two companies demerged, and became Executive Chairman of Granada plc in 2001. When Granada merged with Carlton Communications in 2004 to form ITV plc, Allen became the new company's Chief Executive.

In 2006, Allen stepped down after fifteen years with the company.

From 2006 to 2008, Allen was previously chief advisor to the British Home Office. He has also been a senior advisor to Goldman Sachs Private Equity, non-executive director of Endemol and Virgin Media and executive chairman of EMI.

In May 2021, it was announced that Allen would be the next chairman of the Balfour Beatty construction group, succeeding Philip Aiken from 20 July 2021.

Following criticism of the THG's governance arrangements, Allen replaced Matt Moulding as chairman of THG plc in March 2022.

In November 2024 Allen was named as the next chair of the British Horseracing Authority. He took over the role in September 2025 but resigned on 3 March 2026.

From Wikipedia’s article on Charles Allen (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Personal life

  • BornJan 4, 1957, Lanarkshire7
  • CitizenshipUnited Kingdom8

Allen lives in Kensington with his partner of more than 20 years, Michael, an architect.

From Wikipedia’s article on Charles Allen (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Awards

  • Date not recordedCommander of the Order of the British Empire9
  • Date not recordedInternational Emmy Directorate Award9
  • Date not recordedKnight Bachelor9

Sources

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    WikidataISS, Chair
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