Robert David Mackenzie (born 4 December 1952)[1] is a British businessman, with experience in leadership roles at consumer services businesses. He was the Executive Chairman of The AA (Automobile Association) from 2014 to 2017. He was the Chairman of Northgate plc until his retirement in 2015.[1]
Early life
He attended Bablake Grammar School in Coventry, then in Warwickshire. He attended Trent Polytechnic (now NTU). He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in 1978.
Career
His previous experience includes having been Chairman and CEO of National Car Parks and Green Flag, CEO of Sea Containers, Chairman of PHS Group plc and senior executive board positions with a number of other companies.[2]
The AA
In June 2014 AA was taken public, in a management buy-in, for £1.18bn. Mackenzie became the company's Executive Chairman on 26 June 2014, on a salary of £750,000, and also sat on the AA's Nomination Committee. At the time the AA had around £3bn in debt.
He was sacked as Executive Chairman of The AA on 1 August 2017, for "gross misconduct"[3] after a fight in a hotel bar,[4] although his son Peter said his father had "tendered his resignation" due to a "mental health issue... He is very unwell and has been admitted to hospital."[5]
Personal life
Mackenzie is married to Jane, and has two daughters and three sons.[6] He lives in Warwickshire,[7] and enjoys fishing on the River Test.[8]
References
- ^ "Robert David MACKENZIE - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". Beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
- ^ "AA Annual Report 2015" (PDF). Annualreport2015.theaa.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
- ^ "AA plc : Bob Mackenzie and pre-close update" (PDF). Theaaplc.com\accessdate=2017-08-02.
- ^ Williams, Christopher (5 August 2017). "How the wheels came off at the AA". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group Limited 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
- ^ "AA sacks boss Bob Mackenzie for 'gross misconduct'". BBC Business. 1 August 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
- ^ The Sunday Times, 28 September 2014, page 6
- ^ Tovey, Alan (15 May 2016). "'We were aware of how behind the AA was, it attracted us', says boss". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ "AA executive chairman Bob Mackenzie: From fly rods to flywheels". CityAM. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2020.