McAllister was born in
Glasgow to Ian McAllister and Margaret Mary McAllister. The family moved to
Chorley,
Lancashire when he was a child, and he received a Catholic education at
Thornleigh Salesian College,
Bolton. McAllister graduated from the
University of London in 1964, where he gained a BSc in economics.
Ford McAllister joined Ford as a finance trainee and progressed through various positions in sales and marketing in the UK and
Germany before becoming the marketing director for
Lincoln Mercury in the
United States, returning to become managing director and latterly Chairman of the UK company which then encompassed just the Ford brand built at
Dagenham. During his chairmanship, he returned the company to profitability from losses of £660Million in 1990, McAllister was appointed Chairman of Network Rail in October 2002 following the acquisition of
Railtrack. On 3 October 2008, he announced that he will not stand for re-election to continue as chairman of
Network Rail. He has held this position for six years. In making the announcement, Sir Ian noted that as Network Rail moves to a "new phase in its development," it is appropriate that there be a new chairman to lead it there. He was formerly: Deputy Chairman of the
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority; a member of the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment; an Advisory Council member of The Management School,
Imperial College; Chairman of
the Carbon Trust (2001-2011); a member of the
Energy Saving Trust; a member of the advisory board of
Victim Support.
Personal life He is married to Susan and they have four offspring. He was appointed Commander of the
Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1996
New Year Honours and
knighted in the
2008 New Year Honours. He was awarded an honorary
Doctorate from
Loughborough University in July 1999. McAllister enjoys gardening and supports
Manchester United. == References ==