John Mills (businessman)

John Angus Donald Mills (born 8 May 1938)[1] is a British entrepreneur, economist and businessman, best known for founding UK-based consumer products company JML, where he is currently Chairman and majority shareholder. The company is known for its direct-to-consumer marketing through major retail stores groups and its shopping channels.

Early life

Mills was born in Hampstead Garden Suburb, the son of British Army Colonel Kenneth Mills,[2] who according to The Independent was a senior spy. At the end of World War II, Kenneth Mills was running MI5's operations from Gibraltar. Later, he was transferred to Jamaica and—according to a family legend—personally foiled an attempted revolution in Cuba.[3] Mills's brother is lawyer David Mills, who is married to Dame Tessa Jowell, former Labour minister.[2]

Educated privately at Glenalmond College in Scotland, he then read Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Merton College, Oxford.[1][2] Searching for extra income as a student, he started selling household cleaning goods door-to-door, and in 1958 hired a plane to fly fellow students to Canada for summer jobs by selling off the seats.[2]

After two years of National Service he joined Unilever's graduate scheme, but quit after six months to start his own business. Charged by Trading Standards for selling brass trinkets as gold-plated jewellery, he pleaded guilty and was fined £750.[2] Mills founded Fairlane UK Ltd., which initially sold imported products at trade fairs and exhibitions, and latterly manufactured them. As the pound rose during Margaret Thatcher's government, Fairlane UK went bust in 1984.[2]

Economics and politics

Mills is on the board of various eurosceptic lobby groups, and charity boards including SANE.[2][4]

A supporter of and major donor[2] to the Labour Party, he served as a councillor for the party in the London Borough of Camden for most of the period between 1971 and 2006.

During this time he held a number of political appointments, including Deputy Chairman of the London Docklands Corporation, Chair of the Housing Committee at the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and the London Boroughs Association, and Chair of both the Housing and Finance Committees of the London Borough of Camden. In 2013, it was revealed he had donated £1.65m to the Labour Party in JML shares, making him the party's biggest financial backer.[2][4]

Mills has published a series of books on economics,[5] a subject on which he regularly blogs. Mills' published books include 'A Critical History of Economics'. He has also published books advocating a deep devaluation of sterling and criticising the economics of the Eurozone. He is Vice-Chairman of the Economic Research Council, Secretary of the Labour Euro-Safeguards Campaign, Co-Chairman of Business for Britain, and Chairman of The Pound Campaign.

Personal life

He was married to barrister Dame Barbara Mills, QC until her death in May 2011; the couple had a son and three daughters.

He holds a private pilots licence.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Levens, R.G.C., ed. (1964). Merton College Register 1900-1964. Oxford, UK: Basil Blackwell. p. 506.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Meet John Mills - Labour's biggest donor, telegraph.co.uk; accessed 10 April 2016.
  3. ↑ McSmith, Andy (25 February 2006). "David Mills: The networker". London, UK: The Independent. Retrieved 13 August 2007.
  4. 1 2 John Mills - the Labour millionaire donor behind the snuggie and fast fit ironing board cover, telegraph.co.uk; accessed 10 April 2016.
  5. ↑ "Catalog Biz". Catalog Biz.
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