Michael Heller (businessman)

Michael Heller
Born Michael Aron Heller
July 1936
Residence Hampstead, London, United Kingdom
Education Harrogate Grammar School
Alma mater St Catharine's College, Cambridge
Occupation Businessman
Title Sir
Spouse(s) Morven Heller

Sir Michael Aron Heller (born July 1936) is a British business executive and philanthropist.

Early life

Michael Aron Heller was born in July 1936,[1] and educated at the Harrogate Grammar School in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England.[2] He graduated from St Catherine's College, a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, where he received a Master of Arts degree in 1955.[2][3]

Business career

Heller served as the Chief Executive Officer of KP Nuts.[4] He served on the Board of Directors of United Biscuits.[4] He also served as the Chairman of UB's pension fund.[4]

Heller serves as the Chairman of Bisichi Mining.[2] He also serves as the Chairman of London & Associated Properties.[2][5] Additionally, he serves as the Chairman of Electronic Data Processing.[2]

Philanthropy

Heller co-founded the Michael & Morven Heller Charitable Foundation in 1988.[6] Thanks to a charitable gift they made to the Magen David Adom UK Friend Society in 2006, a Mobile Intensive Care Unit which drives pregnant women in Israel to the nearest hospital was named in their honour.[7] Eight years later, in 2008, as a result of another donation, an ambulance was also named in their honour.[7] In 2010, they attended a fundraising dinner for the British ORT, a Jewish charity.[8] Meanwhile, they have made charitable contributions to the Hampstead Theatre and the London Jewish Cultural Centre.[9][10] They also donated to the Save Van Dyck for the National Portrait Gallery to acquired Anthony van Dyck's self-portrait.[11]

Heller served as the Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Friends of Israel.[12] By 2012, he had donated over GBP£100,000 to the Conservative Party.[12] In 2014, he attended a GBP£50,000 dinner with Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron.[13] He also served as the Deputy Chairman of the Centre for Policy Studies, a center-right think tank based in London.[2] He now serves as a member of its Board.[4]

Heller was named Fellow Commoner by his alma mater, St Catharine's College, in 2003.[3] He received an honorary degree from Sheffield Hallam University in 2010.[14] He was knighted in the 2013 New Year Honours "for charitable services".[12][15]

Personal life

With his wife Morven, he resides in Hampstead in North London.[12] He is a member of the Royal Automobile Club, a private members' club.[2] He collects modern art.[2]

References

  1. "Bisichi Mining plc". Companies House. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Michael Aron HELLER". Debrett's. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Sir Michael Heller". St Catharine's College, Cambridge. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Sir Michael Heller". Centre for Policy Studies. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  5. "DIRECTORS & ADVISORS". London & Associated Properties. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  6. Drury, Flora (December 31, 2012). "'Great treat' to be knighted, says Hampstead man". Ham & High. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Ambulance Dedication Ceremony – Sir Michael & Lady Morven Heller". Magen David Adom. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  8. "London diners collect £400K for Ort's schools". The Jewish Chronicle. October 27, 2010. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  9. "Current Patrons". Hampstead Theatre. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  10. "Patrons". London Jewish Cultural Centre. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  11. "Van Dyck: A Master of Everyone: Supporters". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Mason, Rowena (December 29, 2012). "New Year Honours List 2013: Tory donors get gongs: Property tycoons who have given more than £160,000 to the Conservative Party have been given awards in today's New Year Honours List.". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  13. Blanchard, Jack (November 12, 2014). "David Cameron's Tories in 'cash for access' backlash as donors pay £50,000 to have 'Dinner with Dave'". The Mirror. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  14. "Leading philanthropist receives honorary degree". Sheffield Hallam University. November 18, 2010. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  15. "Knights Bachelor: Knighthood" (PDF). gov.uk. p. 2. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
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