Mr John H Robinson was Chairman of George Wimpey plc, Bespak Plc, Paragon Healthcare Group and Affinity Healtcare Limited. He is also an Operating Partner with Duke Street Capital.

He joined Smith & Nephew in 1979 as Managing Director of the Company’s Medical Division based in Hull, in the North East of England. He was appointed a Director of the main Board in 1981 and a member of the Group Management Executive in the same year. In 1985 Mr Robinson became responsible for the Group’s UK and European operations. He was appointed Chief Executive in 1990 and Chairman in 1997, retiring in 2000.

Mr Robinson began his career in industry as a Technical Officer with ICI in 1962 and in 1965 moved to Fisons where he was appointed Works Co-ordinator. In 1970 he joined PA Management Consultants, where he became Senior Consultant before joining Smith & Nephew.

He was Chairman of Low & Bonar plc from 1997 – 2001, Chairman of Railtrack Group plc from 2001 – 2002 , Chairman of UK Coal plc from 1997 – 2003 and a Non-Executive Director of Delta plc from 1993 – 2001.

Mr Robinson is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and a graduate of the University of Birmingham in Chemical Engineering. He was President of the Institution of Chemical Engineers in 1999/2000 and President of the Chartered Institute of Management in 2002/2003. Mr Robinson is Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council at the University of Hull.