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{{Short description|British businessman (born 1948)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Henry Staunton
| image =
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| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1948|05}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality =
| occupation = Businessman
| years_active = 1960s–present
| known_for = Chairman, [[WH Smith]]
| spouse =
}}
'''Henry Eric Staunton''' (born May 1948)<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Henry Eric Staunton: appointments |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/zwNq5hs9Glq4virPKNrJ0SPPFzY/appointments |access-date=28 January 2024 |website=Companies House}}</ref> is a British businessman, the former chairman of retailers [[WH Smith]] and [[BrightHouse (retailer)|BrightHouse]], and of [[Post Office Limited]]. Earlier, he was finance director of [[Granada Group]] and then [[ITV plc]].
Named in ''[[The Times]]'' 2006 Power 100 survey, and rated as one of the UK's top 50 finance movers and shakers by ''[[Accountancy Age]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accountancyage.com/accountancyage/features/2040286/top-power-list-part |title=Top 50 power list (part 2) - 08 Jan 2004 |publisher=Accountancy Age |access-date=2012-11-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704172500/http://www.accountancyage.com/accountancyage/features/2040286/top-power-list-part |archive-date=4 July 2010 }}</ref> Staunton is an "experienced finance professional"<ref>''[[Accountancy Age]]'', 8 June 2010 Finance experts take top WH Smith roles</ref> and "well regarded dealmaker".<ref>''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', 22 September 2005</ref><ref>''[[The Business (magazine)|The Business]]'', 25 September 2005</ref> While at Granada, he helped steer one of the largest mergers in media history – creating a unified ITV – and played a role in ensuring Granada and its executives came out on top after the £5.8bn deal to merge Carlton and Granada.<ref name=karenday>{{cite web|url=http://www.accountancyage.com/accountancyage/features/2143753/fd-here |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130116080821/http://www.accountancyage.com/accountancyage/features/2143753/fd-here |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-16 |title=I'm an FD, get me out of here - 29 Sep 2005 |publisher=Accountancy Age |access-date=2012-11-27 }}</ref>
==Education and early career==
Staunton was privately educated at [[Ipswich School]] before reading [[Economics]] and [[Statistics]] at the [[University of Exeter]]. In 1970, he joined auditing firm [[Price Waterhouse]]: he was admitted as a partner in 1981, later becoming Senior Audit Partner, looking after a number of its clients including news service [[Reuters]] and textiles and chemicals manufacturer [[Courtaulds]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Henry E. Staunton F.C.A., B.A., A.R.N. |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=924280&ric=LAD.L&previousCapId=874781&previousTitle=Legal%20%26%20General%20Group%20Plc |title=Henry Staunton: Executive Profile & Biography - Businessweek |publisher=Investing.businessweek.com |access-date=2012-11-27}}{{dead link|date=April 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
==Later career==
Staunton joined [[Granada plc]], as finance director, in 1993 and, after the merger of [[Granada Television|Granada]] and [[Carlton Television|Carlton]], was appointed to the board of [[ITV plc]] on 3 December 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itvplc.com/files/financialreport/2022/itv_2006_ar.pdf |title=ITV plc Report and accounts 2006 |publisher=Itvplc.com |access-date=2012-08-07 }}{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> On 21 September 2005, ITV plc announced that Staunton planned to step down as Finance Director.<ref>Marketing, 21 December 2005</ref> He resigned from the Board of ITV plc on 29 March 2006,<ref>Regulatory News Service, 30 March 2006</ref> announcing that he planned to "broadly retire".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/article739003.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612015731/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/article739003.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 June 2011 |title=Business {{pipe}} The Times |work=[[The Times]] |date=2009-10-23 |access-date=2012-11-27}}</ref>
==Non-executive career==
Staunton was chairman of [[Ashtead Group plc]], a plant hire company (1997 to 2004), and was a non-executive director of [[EMAP plc]], a consumer magazine and media company (1995 to 2002). In 2002, Staunton was forced to resign after a government ruling that he could not be on the board of both Granada and Emap.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2002/06/27/bfmov27.xml |title=Personal finance news, how to make money, how to save money |work=The Daily Telegraph|date=2011-05-31 |access-date=2012-11-27}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> He has also been on the boards of [[ITN]], a British news broadcaster, and [[British Sky Broadcasting|BSkyB]] – the operator of the UK's largest digital pay television platform – and international fashion retailer [[New Look (store)|New Look]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Henry Staunton director information. Free company director check.|url=http://www.cbetta.com/director/henry-staunton|access-date=2020-09-29|website=cbetta.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Jones |first=Adam |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c6576fb0-0fcc-11df-b278-00144feab49a.html |title=New Look listing aims to raise £650m |work=Financial Times |date=2010-02-02 |access-date=2012-11-27}}</ref>
Staunton was appointed to the board of [[Legal & General]] on 1 May 2004<ref>{{cite web|url=http://reports.legalandgeneralgroup.com/2011/ara/governance/directorsreportonremuneration/remunerationpolicies/non-executivedirectors.html|title=Remuneration Report|publisher=Legal and General|year=2011|access-date=30 November 2012|archive-date=12 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112134349/http://reports.legalandgeneralgroup.com/2011/ara/governance/directorsreportonremuneration/remunerationpolicies/non-executivedirectors.html|url-status=dead}} Legal & General Annual Reports & Accounts 2011</ref> and was vice chairman and senior independent director<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investor.legalandgeneral.com/group-board.cfm?showbio= |title=Legal & General - Group Board |publisher=Investor.legalandgeneral.com |access-date=2012-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021051447/http://investor.legalandgeneral.com/group-board.cfm?showbio= |archive-date=21 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> until his retirement from the board in May 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investor.legalandgeneral.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=751333 |title= Directorate Change - Legal & General press release |access-date=2012-11-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130904093216/http://investor.legalandgeneral.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=751333 |archive-date=4 September 2013 |date=March 2013}}</ref> He was also a non-executive director of [[Standard Bank]] from December 2005 to September 2016,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.standardbank.co.za/site/investor/ar_2005/financials/directors_report.htm |title=Annual report 2005 : Directors' report |publisher=Standard Bank |access-date=2012-11-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207015913/http://www.standardbank.co.za/site/investor/ar_2005/financials/directors_report.htm |archive-date=7 February 2012 }}</ref> of [[Ladbrokes]] from September 2006 to May 2010,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.whsmithplc.co.uk/docs/press-releases/WHSPLC-PR-080610.pdf|title=WH Smith plc, Board Changes, 8 June 2012}}</ref> and of The [[Merchants Trust]] plc from May 2008 to December 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://moneyam.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200804161544164991S.html|title=Directorate Change|publisher=Merchant's Trust|year=2008|access-date=6 May 2008|archive-date=3 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003221921/http://moneyam.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200804161544164991S.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2010, it was announced Staunton was to join the non-executive boards of [[WH Smith plc]]<ref>{{cite web |author=John O'Doherty |date=2010-06-08 |title=WH Smith appoints new chairman |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/648b6706-72c7-11df-9161-00144feabdc0.html |access-date=2012-11-27 |work=Financial Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accountancyage.com/accountancyage/news/2264316/finance-experts-top-wh-smith |title=Finance experts take top WH Smith roles - 08 Jun 2010 |publisher=Accountancy Age |access-date=2012-08-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831103458/http://www.accountancyage.com/accountancyage/news/2264316/finance-experts-top-wh-smith |archive-date=31 August 2010 }}</ref> and [[Capital & Counties Properties]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitallook.com/news/rns/3494240-2480185/CAPC-Directorate_Change_html |title=Capital & Counties Properties News (CAPC) Share Prices, Charts, News, Financials, and More |publisher=Digital Look |access-date=2012-08-07}}</ref> He was appointed chairman of [[BrightHouse (retailer)|BrightHouse]], a rent-to-own retailer, in July 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harrison |first=Nicola |date=7 July 2014 |title=BrightHouse appoints new chairman as sales and profits grow |url=https://www.retail-week.com/electricals/brighthouse-appoints-new-chairman-as-sales-and-profits-grow/5061924.article |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=Retail Week |language=en}}</ref> He retired from WH Smith in June 2022<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/people/city-snapshot-wh-smith-appoints-new-chairman-to-succeed-henry-staunton/668195.article|title=City Snapshot: WH Smith appoints new chairman to succeed Henry Staunton|date=8 June 2022|newspaper=The Grocer|access-date=28 January 2024}}</ref> and from Capital & Counties Properties in March 2023.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.shaftesburycapital.com/content/dam/shaftesbury/corporate/new-build/doucments/about-us/state,ent-430/Section%20430(2B)%20Statement%20-%20Henry%20Staunton.pdf|title=Section 430(2B) Companies Act 2006 Statement|publisher=Shaftsbury Capital| access-date=28 January 2024}}</ref>
Staunton was appointed chair of [[Post Office Limited]] in December 2022. He was removed on 27 January 2024, following disagreements with the Business Secretary [[Kemi Badenoch]] on matters including the appointment of a new independent director. This action came as the government sought to strengthen governance at the state-owned company in the wake of the long-running [[Horizon IT scandal]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kleinman |first=Mark |date=2024-01-27 |title=Post Office chairman Henry Staunton ousted amid row with government |url=https://news.sky.com/story/post-office-chairman-to-leave-amid-row-with-government-13057745 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127175419/https://news.sky.com/story/post-office-chairman-to-leave-amid-row-with-government-13057745 |archive-date=2024-01-27 |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 January 2024 |title=Post Office chairman sacked by Business Sec Badenoch after 'rows' in wake of public outcry of Horizon scandal |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/henry-staunton-sacked-post-office-chairman/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=LBC |language=en}}</ref> The following month, in an interview with ''The Sunday Times'', Staunton said he had been asked by a senior civil service official shortly after his appointment to slow the payout of payments to sub-postmasters affected by the scandal so that the government could "limp into the next election".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shah |first=Oliver |date=2024-02-20 |title=Post Office boss: I was told to stall compensation to help Tories |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/post-office-chairman-interview-henry-staunton-ws5k6sh9p |url-access=registration |access-date=2024-02-20 |work=The Sunday Times |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Halliday |first=Josh |date=2024-02-18 |title=Former Post Office chair says he was told to stall Horizon compensation payouts |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/feb/18/former-post-office-boss-stall-horizon-compensation-payouts |access-date=2024-02-18 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The next day, Badenoch told Parliament that Staunton had been under "formal investigation" for misconduct.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Witherow |first=Tom |date=2024-02-20 |title=Kemi Badenoch says sacked Post Office boss faced bullying investigation |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/sacked-post-office-chief-was-a-bully-badenoch-claims-r90qhmlxl |url-access=registration |access-date=2024-02-20 |work=[[The Times]] |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}</ref>
==Other interests==
Outside his business life, Staunton sits on the advisory board of the [[University of Exeter Business School]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/about/whoswho/boardofadvisors/ |title=Board of Advisors - University of Exeter Business School |publisher=Business-school.exeter.ac.uk |access-date=2012-08-07}}</ref> He plays [[Eton Fives]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/money/2008/05/02/ccdiary102.xml |title=Personal finance news, how to make money, how to save money |work=The Daily Telegraph|date=2011-05-31 |access-date=2012-11-27}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> and [[golf]]. His clubs include Walton Heath Golf Club<ref>{{cite news|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/columnists/article1652578.ece|title=Vector lines up top team for Duffy|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=14 April 2007|access-date=29 April 2007|archive-date=12 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612015608/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/columnists/article1652578.ece|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the [[Royal Automobile Club|RAC]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.linkedin.com/pub/henry-staunton/11/9ba/b80 |title=Henry Staunton |publisher=LinkedIn |access-date=2012-11-27}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Staunton, Henry}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from London]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Exeter]]
[[Category:People educated at Ipswich School]]
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