Adrian Cadbury

Sir George Adrian Hayhurst Cadbury CH, DL (15 April 1929 – 3 September 2015) was a British Olympic rower and Chairman of Cadbury and Cadbury Schweppes for 24 years. He was a pioneer in raising the awareness and stimulating the debate on corporate governance and produced the Cadbury Report, a code of best practice which served as a basis for reform of corporate governance around the world.

Early life, education and rowing

Cadbury was born 15 April 1929, a member of the Cadbury family who are known for their Quaker philosophy and the chocolate conglomerate which they founded. He was educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge. At Cambridge, he rowed in the losing Cambridge boat in the 1952 Boat Race. He also rowed in the Great Britain coxless four in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.

Life in business

He joined the Cadbury business in 1958 and became Chairman of Cadbury Ltd in 1965. He retired as Chairman of Cadbury Schweppes in 1989. He was a Director of the Bank of England from 1970–94 and of IBM from 1975–94. He was Chairman of the UK Committee on the Financial Aspects of Corporate Governance which published its Report and Code of Best Practice ("Cadbury Report and Code") in December 1992. He was member of the OECD Business Sector Advisory Group on Corporate Governance. His publications include: Ethical Managers Make Their Own Rules; The Company chairman; Corporate Governance and Chairmanship: A Personal View. He was appointed High Sheriff of the West Midlands for 1994–95.

Support of Aston University

Sir Adrian had a long-standing relationship with Aston University. He served as Aston Chancellor between 1979 and 2004, later chaired the University's Development Board, and was one of the University's most generous supporters. As Chancellor Emeritus, Sir Adrian contributed to undergraduate and postgraduate courses, speaking in particular on governance, business ethics and corporate social responsibility. He was also a patron of Aston Raise and Give Society, which is the fundraising body of Aston University. As part of the 60th anniversary celebrations of Aston Business School in 2008, Sir Adrian was awarded a rare Beta Gamma Sigma Business Achievement Award. Aston Business School's MBA lecture theatres were also named after Sir Adrian and Lady Susan Cadbury, in recognition of their long association with Aston University.

Honours and awards

He was made a Knight Bachelor in 1977, thereafter becoming Sir Adrian Cadbury. He was given the Freedom of the City of Birmingham in 1982. He was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant (DL) of the West Midlands in 1995.

In recognition of his contribution to commerce, corporate governance and public life, Sir Adrian has received honorary degrees from many universities (including Aston University, University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University, University of Cambridge, and University of Bristol). In 1995 the Royal Society of Arts awarded Sir Adrian its Albert Medal and in 2001 he received one of the International Corporate Governance Network's inaugural awards. In early 2008, Sir Adrian was made an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

Cadbury was a Steward of Henley Royal Regatta and the President of Birmingham Rowing Club.

Cadbury was appointed Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to business and the community, especially in Birmingham.

Death

He died on 3 September 2015, aged 86.

Publications

• Cadbury, A. (1992) Report and Code of Best Practice (Cadbury Report and Code), The Committee on the Financial Aspects of Corporate Governance, London: Gee and Company
• Cadbury, Adrian (1995) The Company chairman (2nd Ed), NJ: Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13-434150-3
• Cadbury, Adrian (2002) Corporate Governance and Chairmanship: A Personal View, Oxford: Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-925200-9