Luke Johnson
Luke Johnson studied medicine at Oxford University and graduated in 1983. He then worked as a media analyst at stockbroker Grieveson Grant (subsequently Kleinwort Benson Securities).
Luke took control of PizzaExpress with partners in 1993 and subsequently became Chairman. He grew the business from 12 owned restaurants to over 250, and the share price from 40p to over 900p.
He sold out in 1999 and started Signature Restaurants, which owned The Ivy and Le Caprice, as well as the Belgo chain, selling the business in 2005. He started the Strada restaurant concept from scratch and took the chain to 30 units and sold it in late 2005. The total proceeds from these two disposals were in excess of £90 million.
Luke took control of PizzaExpress with partners in 1993 and subsequently became Chairman. He grew the business from 12 owned restaurants to over 250, and the share price from 40p to over 900p.
He sold out in 1999 and started Signature Restaurants, which owned The Ivy and Le Caprice, as well as the Belgo chain, selling the business in 2005. He started the Strada restaurant concept from scratch and took the chain to 30 units and sold it in late 2005. The total proceeds from these two disposals were in excess of £90 million.
One of the
UK's most
Inspirational
Entrepreneurs
In the period 1993 to date he has been involved as a Director/owner of various quoted companies in retailing, pubs and bars, parcel delivery and maritime commerce, including Whittard of Chelsea, My Kinda Town, Nightfreight and American Port Services.
Luke founded Integrated Dental Holdings with partners in 1996 and grew it to become the largest UK chain of dental surgeries with over 500 dentists. This was sold in 2006 for over £100 million.
He is a co-founder/owner and Director of InterQuest Group plc, a quoted recruitment business. From 2004 to 2006 he was a Director of Dollar Financial Group Inc, a US NASDAQ traded corporation with some $80m EBITDA.
Since 2000 Luke has run Risk Capital Partners Ltd., focusing on private equity deals.
He has been a principal owner of GRA, the UK's largest greyhound track owner, since early 2005.
He was the principal owner of Mayfair Gaming, the chain of Riva bingo clubs, from 2004. This was sold in 2006 for an IRR of over 40%.
He is also the part owner and Chairman of Superbrands, Giraffe restaurants and Patisserie Valerie. He has been a major owner and Director of the market leader in car park equipment, APT Controls, since early 2007.
Luke became Chairman of Channel 4 Television Corporation in January 2004. Since then, he has appointed a new CEO, restructured the board and seen the organisation enjoy record ratings, revenues and surplus. He also serves as Chairman of the trustees of the £150m Channel 4 staff pension plan.
In September 2007, Luke bought Borders, one of the UK's largest bookshop chains with revenues of over £200m. The business was sold in July 2009.
Luke wrote a weekly column on business matters for The Sunday Telegraph for eight years until 2006. He now writes a weekly column on entrepreneurship for The Financial Times. He was also a governor of The University of the Arts London between 2000 and 2006. He was appointed Chairman of the Royal Society of Arts in 2008. He is married with two children and lives in London.
Luke founded Integrated Dental Holdings with partners in 1996 and grew it to become the largest UK chain of dental surgeries with over 500 dentists. This was sold in 2006 for over £100 million.
He is a co-founder/owner and Director of InterQuest Group plc, a quoted recruitment business. From 2004 to 2006 he was a Director of Dollar Financial Group Inc, a US NASDAQ traded corporation with some $80m EBITDA.
Since 2000 Luke has run Risk Capital Partners Ltd., focusing on private equity deals.
He has been a principal owner of GRA, the UK's largest greyhound track owner, since early 2005.
He was the principal owner of Mayfair Gaming, the chain of Riva bingo clubs, from 2004. This was sold in 2006 for an IRR of over 40%.
He is also the part owner and Chairman of Superbrands, Giraffe restaurants and Patisserie Valerie. He has been a major owner and Director of the market leader in car park equipment, APT Controls, since early 2007.
Luke became Chairman of Channel 4 Television Corporation in January 2004. Since then, he has appointed a new CEO, restructured the board and seen the organisation enjoy record ratings, revenues and surplus. He also serves as Chairman of the trustees of the £150m Channel 4 staff pension plan.
In September 2007, Luke bought Borders, one of the UK's largest bookshop chains with revenues of over £200m. The business was sold in July 2009.
Luke wrote a weekly column on business matters for The Sunday Telegraph for eight years until 2006. He now writes a weekly column on entrepreneurship for The Financial Times. He was also a governor of The University of the Arts London between 2000 and 2006. He was appointed Chairman of the Royal Society of Arts in 2008. He is married with two children and lives in London.
Testimonials
'Please can you pass on our thanks to Luke Johnson for giving us such an inspiring talk last night at Chatham House. I think we all felt much better after his words of wisdom. He kept very much on the brief that we had given him, so we're very pleased with the outcome.'
Hilary Baxter, Director of Business Development and External Affairs, The Open University
Hilary Baxter, Director of Business Development and External Affairs, The Open University
'Your speech proved to be one of the major highlights of the day and I have received many complimentary comments since.'
Geoff Parsons, iFestival East Midlands Innovation
Geoff Parsons, iFestival East Midlands Innovation
'I felt the address that Luke gave touched on some crucial areas for UK business and the UK economy, particularly his thoughts on what the UK, as a whole needs to do if we are going to remain an economic power in the future.'
Alex Mitchell, Head of Influencer Relations at the Institute of Directors
Alex Mitchell, Head of Influencer Relations at the Institute of Directors
