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18/05/2014

Declan Curry with lively analysis of the big business stories making the headlines. He is joined by John Mills, founder of the retailer JML.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 18 May 2014 19:00

John Mills, founder, JML

John Mills, founder, JML
Self-employed for over fifty years, after a brief spell as a management trainee with Unilever, John Mills is chairman and majority shareholder of import-export and distribution company, John Mills Limited (JML). He founded the company in 1986 and ran it from the basement of his Camden home.

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The company was started after a good response to his demonstration of a wood working device at the Ideal 91Èȱ¬s Exhibition. That started him using video to demonstrate products, which were soon displayed on television screens on a loop in hardware stores.

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JML brands include the Snuggie, a blanket with sleeves and a hole in it for a person's head, and a Fast Fit Ironing Board Cover.

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John was a Labour councillor in Camden from 1971 to 2006 and a deputy director of the London Dockland Development Corporation.

Bill Westwater, chief executive, Xeros

Bill Westwater, chief executive, Xeros

Bill joined Xeros as chief executive in mid 2008. HisÌýbackground is in marketing and international brand management for companies such as Royal Dutch Shell and P&G, where he was responsible Shell Helix globally and Ariel detergent in China.

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Xeros has invented a near-waterless washing machine. The company's system cleans clothes without the need for much water by using polymer beads. Xeros originally came out of work by the University of Leeds.

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Simon Walker, director general, Institute of Directors

Simon Walker, director general, Institute of Directors

Simon Walker became Director General of the Institute of Director in October 2011. Previously he was chief executive of the BVCA, the organisation that represents British private equity and venture capital from October 2007.

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Simon has worked in a number of roles including at Reuters as Director of Corporate Communications and Communications Secretary to HM The Queen at Buckingham Palace. He has also served as Director of Corporate Affairs at British Airways. And from 1996-1997 Simon worked as a special adviser in the Prime Ministers Policy Unit at 10 Downing Street.

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Simon was born in South Africa, and has worked as a journalist and consultant in New Zealand, Belgium and the UK. He read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Balliol College, Oxford, where he was President of the Oxford Union.

Tom Riordan, chief executive, Leeds City Council

Tom Riordan, chief executive, Leeds City Council

Tom is the youngest ever chief executive of Leeds City Council. Since 2010 he has overseen the construction of a state-of-the-art Arena and helped secure the Tour de France Grand Départ for Yorkshire.

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Tom previously led the Regional Development Agency, Yorkshire Forward.ÌýHe is also on the Centre for Cities Board of trustees and is engaged in the "Leaders for Leeds" civic enterprise network.

Broadcast

  • Sun 18 May 2014 19:00