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Peter Wood (businessman)

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Wood is the biggest donor to prostate cancer research at UCL Hospital in London, where he has funded the latest radiology equipment and sponsors a leading professor. Wood also funded equipment enabling UCL to conduct research in the immune response detectable from the blood of Covid-19 patients.
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In February 2010, Wood led a management buy-out of esure, subsequently leading the floatation of esure Group plc on the London Stock Exchange on 27 March 2013. esure staff received a £3m payout at the time. In August 2018, esure announced that it was to be acquired by Bain Capital for £1.2bn. Wood
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bank, which provided £150 million of startup capital. esure used the same business model as Direct Line and targeted the same customer base, establishing a foothold in the market before following with a subsidiary (First Alternative) in 2003 for drivers of higher premium vehicles. Even its
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called his bonus "obscene"—was a source of embarrassment both to Wood himself and the Royal Bank, which attempted to buy its way out of its contractual obligations with a one-off £24 million payment in 1994, taking his total income that year to £42 million. Wood himself claims that he
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advertising and marketing were similar, to the point where Direct Line challenged esure's "Mr Mouse" character to be an infringement of its own iconic red telephone on wheels, and it successfully took esure to court to prevent it being trademarked. A women-only specialist insurance brand,
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at the Direct Line offices which injured a member of staff. Nevertheless, Wood remained richly rewarded, receiving another £17 million in 1995 and remaining a byword for the perceived excesses of corporate boardrooms in the 1990s, according to critics.
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Wood also set up two insurance companies in the United States, Response (1995) and Homesite (1997), although his involvement with both of them came to an end in 2004. He is a Director and shareholder in American insurer The Plymouth Rock Company.
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From 1996 to 2000, Wood was a non-executive director of the holding company British Gas and the Automobile Association. In 1998, he was appointed as a non-executive director to the Board of the Economist, where he serviced until March 2004.
244: 104:. This led to his becoming Britain's highest paid company director, receiving £1.6 million in 1991, £6 million in 1992, and £18.2 million in 1993. The subsequent attention and notoriety his pay attracted— 254: 135:(LDA), a direct motor insurer in Spain, through a joint venture between RBS and Bankinter. LDA listed on the Madrid stock exchange in April 2020 with a market valuation of €1.434bn euros. 1090: 983: 422: 55:
for services to UK industry and philanthropy. In 2021 he was the 198th wealthiest person in Britain with an estimated personal fortune of £815 million, according to the
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Wood is an established investor in property. Developments include the former headquarters of BBC Radio in Marylebone, London and properties in Palm Beach, Florida.
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in 1994 and served for three years until he moved to found The Croydon Colorectal Cancer Charity with Mr Ian Swift, Consultant Surgeon at Mayday Hospital, Surrey.
788: 633: 1197: 1005: 1139:"Increased Complement Receptor-3 levels in monocytes and granulocytes distinguish COVID-19 patients with pneumonia from those with mild symptoms" 1177: 1112: 1187: 1182: 659: 40: 23: 714: 1192: 806: 131:, an insurance company specialising in lower-risk customers which had been founded in 1996. Whilst running Direct Line, Wood founded 1031: 770: 908: 589: 357: 1064: 525: 792: 432: 1138: 508: 1207: 934: 132: 677: 749: 148: 128: 548: 1222: 108: 56: 1202: 831: 955: 1217: 180:
agreed a £594 million takeover of GoCo Group plc, which by this point had grown to include not just
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He left Direct Line in 1997, but continued to work with the Royal Bank in other areas, including
568: 472: 289: 269: 1212: 97: 498: 857: 52: 44: 634:"Línea Directa: el experimento de la venta telefónica de seguros llama a la puerta del Ibex" 96:, the first telephone-only insurance company in the UK. The venture was underwritten by the 1172: 8: 774: 771:"esure Insurance Ltd v Direct Line Insurance plc (2008) EWCA Civ 842; (2008) WLR (D) 252" 530: 427: 789:"Peter Wood and HBOS launch 'Sheilas' Wheels' brand to shake-up car insurance for women" 619: 597: 294: 274: 153: 72: 1039: 504: 477: 378: 105: 454: 309: 160:
remained as Chairman of esure until March 2020 when he stepped down from the Board.
314: 68: 719: 695: 573: 362: 249: 245:"Seventh heaven for the man who started Britain's telephone insurance revolution" 112: 48: 185: 1166: 1043: 882: 181: 169: 1065:"Sir Peter Wood backs open finance platform Moneyhub | Business Leader News" 754: 553: 216: 101: 1006:"This Marylebone sub-penthouse for sale is in the old BBC Radio London HQ" 120: 93: 32: 177: 115: 569:"Highest paid director gets 900 times more than his average employee" 341: 76: 1113:"UCL Cancer Institute receives £1.875m gift from Sir Peter Wood CBE" 1032:"Sir Peter Wood on why he's ditched insurance in favour of property" 681: 832:"Esure staff to share £3m bonanza after insurance firm's flotation" 791:(Press release). Sheilas' Wheels. 19 September 2005. Archived from 31:) is an English entrepreneur, most notable as the founder of the 660:"Spanish insurance company LDA jumps 30% on Madrid market debut" 28: 496: 173: 168:
Sir Peter Wood was also chairman of price comparison website
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personally requested an end to the deal after receiving a
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Mabey, Christopher; Graeme Salaman; John Storey (1998).
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In 2021, Wood founded the investment vehicle, SPWOne.
156:, was established by Wood and esure in October 2005. 735:"The First Alternative for Higher Premium Motorists" 1164: 727: 278:(1st supplement). 30 December 1995. p. 10. 935:"The Plymouth Rock Company 2020 Annual Report" 750:"Direct Line squashes esure's mouse on wheels" 549:"Royal Bank? It's trebles all round the board" 1198:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire 1091:"QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HONOURS 2016 – HIGH AWARDS" 596:(89). International Socialism. Archived from 503:. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. p. 143. 1003: 715:"Peter Wood tackles higher risk cars market" 590:"Wealth, poverty and class in Britain today" 238: 236: 47:for services to the insurance industry, and 41:Commander of the Order of the British Empire 807:"esure in £1bn London Stock Exchange Float" 747: 543: 541: 349: 762: 670: 612: 331: 329: 327: 325: 741: 712: 581: 466: 464: 420: 355: 242: 233: 79:. He is divorced and has five daughters. 858:"Important Disclaimer | esure Group plc" 737:(Press release). Esure. 22 October 2003. 706: 561: 538: 523: 447: 288: 268: 39:insurance companies. Wood was appointed 768: 688: 470: 322: 302: 298:(Supplement). 11 June 2016. p. B2. 1165: 883:"Gocompare and insurer Esure to split" 781: 492: 490: 488: 471:Darroch, Valerie (12 September 2001). 461: 414: 356:Griffiths, Katherine (27 April 2002). 1029: 1004:Avis-Riordan, Katie (7 August 2017). 376: 358:"Peter Wood helps fund Cox cash call" 1178:British chairpersons of corporations 984:"Proposed demerger of Gocompare.com" 524:Ringshaw, Grant (20 February 2000). 517: 176:in November 2016. In November 2020, 147:, this time in partnership with the 67:Wood was born on 6 November 1946 in 1188:British technology company founders 1183:British technology chief executives 1136: 1110: 696:"Halifax to offer online insurance" 587: 485: 215:He was appointed a director of the 13: 1193:Businesspeople awarded knighthoods 713:Stevenson, Rachel (26 June 2003). 243:Stevenson, Rachel (30 June 2003). 14: 1239: 1030:Curry, Rhiannon (16 April 2017). 769:Toulmin, Carolyn (23 July 2008). 620:"Succession at Direct Line Group" 337:"Esure boss just won't calm down" 184:but also Look After My Bills and 421:Parkinson, Gary (2 April 2000). 62: 16:English entrepreneur (born 1946) 1130: 1104: 1083: 1057: 1023: 997: 976: 948: 927: 901: 875: 850: 824: 799: 652: 626: 594:International Socialism Journal 401:DLG Corporate Corporate Website 217:Princess Royal Trust for Carers 210: 640:(in Spanish). 19 December 2019 389: 370: 282: 261: 172:, following its demerger from 87: 1: 377:Finch, Julia (26 June 2003). 226: 163: 622:. PR Newswire. 25 June 1997. 7: 748:Out-Law.com (5 July 2007). 57:Sunday Times Rich List 2021 10: 1244: 27:(born 6 November 1946, in 942:The Plymouth Rock Company 588:Cox, Judy (Winter 1995). 500:Human Resource Management 133:Línea Directa Aseguradora 82: 557:. London. 14 March 2001. 526:"I'm coming out to play" 457:. Direct Line Insurance. 431:. London. Archived from 345:. London. 11 April 2004. 191: 138: 680:. Esure. Archived from 1208:English businesspeople 455:"About us: Milestones" 98:Royal Bank of Scotland 92:In 1985 Wood launched 1137:UCL (2 August 2020). 423:"Wood poaches chiefs" 267:United Kingdom list: 143:In 1999 Wood founded 71:. He was educated at 53:2016 Birthday Honours 45:1996 New Year Honours 1111:UCL (16 July 2019). 993:. 13 September 2016. 577:. 14 September 1995. 435:on 16 September 2004 1223:People from Reigate 889:. 13 September 2016 702:. 17 February 2000. 684:on 16 October 2008. 531:The Daily Telegraph 428:The Daily Telegraph 318:. London. May 2021. 20:Sir Peter John Wood 944:. 8 February 2021. 862:www.esuregroup.com 795:on 7 January 2009. 295:The London Gazette 275:The London Gazette 73:Brooklands College 1203:Direct Line Group 777:on 4 August 2008. 600:on 6 January 2009 478:The Sunday Herald 1235: 1218:Knights Bachelor 1157: 1156: 1154: 1152: 1143: 1134: 1128: 1127: 1125: 1123: 1108: 1102: 1101: 1095: 1087: 1081: 1080: 1078: 1076: 1061: 1055: 1054: 1052: 1050: 1027: 1021: 1020: 1018: 1016: 1001: 995: 994: 988: 980: 974: 973: 971: 969: 963:www.centrica.com 960: 952: 946: 945: 939: 931: 925: 924: 922: 920: 913:Energy Live News 905: 899: 898: 896: 894: 879: 873: 872: 870: 868: 854: 848: 847: 845: 843: 828: 822: 821: 819: 817: 803: 797: 796: 785: 779: 778: 773:. Archived from 766: 760: 759: 745: 739: 738: 731: 725: 724: 710: 704: 703: 692: 686: 685: 674: 668: 667: 666:. 29 April 2021. 656: 650: 649: 647: 645: 630: 624: 623: 616: 610: 609: 607: 605: 585: 579: 578: 565: 559: 558: 545: 536: 535: 521: 515: 514: 494: 483: 482: 473:"Wizard of odds" 468: 459: 458: 451: 445: 444: 442: 440: 418: 412: 411: 409: 407: 393: 387: 386: 374: 368: 367: 353: 347: 346: 333: 320: 319: 315:The Sunday Times 310:"Rich List 2021" 306: 300: 299: 286: 280: 279: 265: 259: 258: 257:on 3 April 2009. 253:. Archived from 240: 111:and then-shadow 69:Kingston, Surrey 26: 1243: 1242: 1238: 1237: 1236: 1234: 1233: 1232: 1228:English knights 1163: 1162: 1161: 1160: 1150: 1148: 1141: 1135: 1131: 1121: 1119: 1109: 1105: 1100:. 10 June 2016. 1093: 1089: 1088: 1084: 1074: 1072: 1069:Business Leader 1063: 1062: 1058: 1048: 1046: 1028: 1024: 1014: 1012: 1010:House Beautiful 1002: 998: 991:esure Group plc 986: 982: 981: 977: 967: 965: 958: 954: 953: 949: 937: 933: 932: 928: 918: 916: 907: 906: 902: 892: 890: 881: 880: 876: 866: 864: 856: 855: 851: 841: 839: 830: 829: 825: 815: 813: 805: 804: 800: 787: 786: 782: 767: 763: 746: 742: 733: 732: 728: 720:The Independent 711: 707: 694: 693: 689: 676: 675: 671: 658: 657: 653: 643: 641: 632: 631: 627: 618: 617: 613: 603: 601: 586: 582: 574:The Independent 567: 566: 562: 547: 546: 539: 522: 518: 511: 495: 486: 469: 462: 453: 452: 448: 438: 436: 419: 415: 405: 403: 395: 394: 390: 375: 371: 363:The Independent 354: 350: 335: 334: 323: 308: 307: 303: 287: 283: 266: 262: 250:The Independent 241: 234: 229: 213: 194: 174:esure Group plc 166: 154:Sheilas' Wheels 141: 113:Trade Secretary 90: 85: 65: 22: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1241: 1231: 1230: 1225: 1220: 1215: 1210: 1205: 1200: 1195: 1190: 1185: 1180: 1175: 1159: 1158: 1129: 1103: 1082: 1071:. 16 July 2021 1056: 1022: 996: 975: 947: 926: 915:. 26 July 2019 900: 874: 849: 838:. 8 March 2013 823: 798: 780: 761: 740: 726: 705: 687: 669: 651: 625: 611: 580: 560: 537: 516: 509: 484: 460: 446: 413: 388: 369: 348: 321: 301: 281: 260: 231: 230: 228: 225: 212: 209: 193: 190: 186:MyVoucherCodes 165: 162: 140: 137: 89: 86: 84: 81: 64: 61: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1240: 1229: 1226: 1224: 1221: 1219: 1216: 1214: 1213:Living people 1211: 1209: 1206: 1204: 1201: 1199: 1196: 1194: 1191: 1189: 1186: 1184: 1181: 1179: 1176: 1174: 1171: 1170: 1168: 1147: 1140: 1133: 1118: 1114: 1107: 1099: 1092: 1086: 1070: 1066: 1060: 1045: 1041: 1037: 1036:The Telegraph 1033: 1026: 1011: 1007: 1000: 992: 985: 979: 964: 957: 951: 943: 936: 930: 914: 910: 904: 888: 884: 878: 863: 859: 853: 837: 833: 827: 812: 808: 802: 794: 790: 784: 776: 772: 765: 757: 756: 751: 744: 736: 730: 722: 721: 716: 709: 701: 697: 691: 683: 679: 678:"About esure" 673: 665: 661: 655: 639: 635: 629: 621: 615: 599: 595: 591: 584: 576: 575: 570: 564: 556: 555: 550: 544: 542: 533: 532: 527: 520: 512: 510:0-631-21145-4 506: 502: 501: 493: 491: 489: 480: 479: 474: 467: 465: 456: 450: 434: 430: 429: 424: 417: 402: 398: 392: 384: 380: 379:"Cover model" 373: 365: 364: 359: 352: 344: 343: 338: 332: 330: 328: 326: 317: 316: 311: 305: 297: 296: 291: 285: 277: 276: 271: 264: 256: 252: 251: 246: 239: 237: 232: 224: 220: 218: 208: 205: 202: 198: 189: 187: 183: 182:Gocompare.com 179: 175: 171: 170:Gocompare.com 161: 157: 155: 150: 146: 136: 134: 130: 125: 122: 117: 114: 110: 107: 103: 99: 95: 80: 78: 74: 70: 63:Personal life 60: 58: 54: 50: 46: 43:(CBE) in the 42: 38: 34: 30: 25: 21: 1149:. Retrieved 1145: 1132: 1120:. Retrieved 1117:UCL Campaign 1116: 1106: 1097: 1085: 1073:. Retrieved 1068: 1059: 1047:. Retrieved 1035: 1025: 1013:. Retrieved 1009: 999: 990: 978: 966:. Retrieved 962: 950: 941: 929: 917:. Retrieved 912: 903: 891:. Retrieved 886: 877: 865:. Retrieved 861: 852: 840:. Retrieved 836:the Guardian 835: 826: 814:. Retrieved 810: 801: 793:the original 783: 775:the original 764: 755:The Register 753: 743: 729: 718: 708: 690: 682:the original 672: 663: 654: 642:. Retrieved 637: 628: 614: 602:. Retrieved 598:the original 593: 583: 572: 563: 554:The Guardian 552: 529: 519: 499: 476: 449: 437:. Retrieved 433:the original 426: 416: 404:. Retrieved 400: 391: 383:The Guardian 382: 372: 361: 351: 340: 313: 304: 293: 284: 273: 263: 255:the original 248: 221: 214: 211:Philanthropy 206: 203: 199: 195: 167: 158: 142: 126: 106:Labour Party 102:remuneration 91: 66: 19: 18: 1173:1946 births 956:"StackPath" 397:"Our Story" 290:"No. 61608" 270:"No. 54255" 121:letter bomb 94:Direct Line 88:Direct Line 33:Direct Line 1167:Categories 638:El Español 604:6 November 439:11 October 227:References 178:Future plc 164:GoCo Group 116:Robin Cook 1044:0307-1235 968:10 August 534:. London. 342:The Times 129:Privilege 77:Weybridge 1151:2 August 1122:6 August 1075:9 August 1049:9 August 1015:9 August 919:6 August 893:6 August 887:BBC News 867:6 August 842:6 August 816:6 August 644:6 August 406:6 August 49:knighted 149:Halifax 51:in the 1098:Gov.uk 1042:  664:Nasdaq 507:  83:Career 29:Surrey 1142:(PDF) 1094:(PDF) 987:(PDF) 959:(PDF) 938:(PDF) 192:Other 145:esure 139:esure 37:esure 1153:2020 1124:2021 1077:2021 1051:2021 1040:ISSN 1017:2021 970:2021 921:2021 895:2021 869:2021 844:2021 818:2021 811:LSEG 646:2021 606:2008 505:ISBN 441:2021 408:2021 35:and 1146:UCL 700:BBC 75:in 24:CBE 1169:: 1144:. 1115:. 1096:. 1067:. 1038:. 1034:. 1008:. 989:. 961:. 940:. 911:. 885:. 860:. 834:. 809:. 752:. 717:. 698:. 662:. 636:. 592:. 571:. 551:. 540:^ 528:. 487:^ 475:. 463:^ 425:. 399:. 381:. 360:. 339:. 324:^ 312:. 292:. 272:. 247:. 235:^ 188:. 109:MP 59:. 1155:. 1126:. 1079:. 1053:. 1019:. 972:. 923:. 897:. 871:. 846:. 820:. 758:. 723:. 648:. 608:. 513:. 481:. 443:. 410:. 385:. 366:.

Index

CBE
Surrey
Direct Line
esure
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
1996 New Year Honours
knighted
2016 Birthday Honours
Sunday Times Rich List 2021
Kingston, Surrey
Brooklands College
Weybridge
Direct Line
Royal Bank of Scotland
remuneration
Labour Party
MP
Trade Secretary
Robin Cook
letter bomb
Privilege
Línea Directa Aseguradora
esure
Halifax
Sheilas' Wheels
Gocompare.com
esure Group plc
Future plc
Gocompare.com
MyVoucherCodes

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