MICHAEL
GRADE
Born in
London on
8 March 1943,
Michael Grade
was educated
at Stowe and
St Dunstan’s
College.
A sports
columnist
on the Daily
Mirror from
1960-66, he
spent the
next seven
years as joint
Managing Director
of London
Management
(Talent Agency).
In 1973 he
became Head
of Entertainment
and Director
of Programmes
at London
Weekend Television,
a position
he held until
1981, when
he moved to
the United
States to
become President
of Embassy
Television.
He joined
the BBC as
Controller,
BBC-1, in
September
1984, and
in conjunction
with these
duties he
became Director
of Programmes,
Television,
in June 1986,
and Managing
Director Designate
in 1987.
In January
1988 Michael
Grade took
up the post
of Chief Executive
at Channel
4 Television.
In March
1995 he was
appointed
Non-Executive
Chairman of
First Leisure
Corporation
plc. At the
end of January
1997, his
appointment
as Executive
Chairman of
First Leisure
was confirmed
and he took
up his position
on 2 June
1997. Also
in 1997 he
was appointed
Chairman of
the Royal
National Theatre
Development
Council and
also became
a Director
of The New
Millennium
Experience
Company. He
is a member
of the Council
of the Royal
Albert Hall.
In October
1998 on the
appointment
of a Non-Executive
Chairman,
he became
Chief Executive
and oversaw
the restructuring
of the Company.
In April
2000 he became
Chairman of
Index on Censorship.
Since leaving
First Leisure,
Michael Grade
became Chairman
of the Octopus
Publishing
Group, as
well as Chairman
of Pinewood
Studios Ltd.
At the end
of January
2000, he joined
the Board
of the Camelot
Group, who
operate the
National Lottery
licence, and
became the
Chairman in
2002. In March
2000 he was
made Chairman
of Hemscott.NET,
a leading
supplier of
business and
investment
information
over the Internet.
He has also
become a Non-Executive
Director of
Digital Octopus.
Michael Grade
was awarded
a CBE in the
1998 New Year’s
Honours.
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