Quick Facts
Biography
Robert David Mackenzie (born 4 December 1952) 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 is Chairman at Northgate plc.
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.
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" after a fight in a hotel bar, 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."
Personal life
He married Jane, and has two daughters and three sons. He lives in Warwick District, not far from Stoneleigh Park (largely the home of British agriculture). He enjoys fishing on the River Test.