Norman Ireland (businessman)

Sir Norman Charles Ireland FCA FCMI (28 May 1927 – 5 October 2011) was a British businessman who was Chief Executive and later Chairman of British conglomerate, BTR plc.[1]

Ireland was born in the Aden Protectorate in 1927 but soon left to study in the British Raj and finally the United Kingdom.[1] From there, he became qualified as an accountant and in doing so, became a financial adviser to the British, Avon Rubber Company from 1954 to 1967.[2]

It was in his later life that he joined BTR plc.[1] In this time, he was the financial controller from 1967 until the 1980s, where Sir Owen Green promoted him to become the chief executive in 1984.[1][3] Ireland later replaced Green in 1993 to become Chairman of the entire conglomerate during the rapid growth period led by his chief executive, Alan Jackson.[2][4]

Ireland retired after leaving the position of Chairman of BTR in 1995. He died on 5 October 2011, at the age of 84.[5]