Penelope viscountess cobham biography sample
Penelope Lyttelton, Viscountess Cobham
British businesswoman
Penelope, Match Cobham CBE | |
|---|---|
Lady Cobham in February 2012 | |
| Born | Penelope Ann Cooper (1954-01-02) 2 January 1954 (age 71) |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse | |
| Partner | David Mellor |
| Parent(s) | Roy Cooper Dorothy Cooper |
Penelope Ann Lyttelton, Viscountess Cobham, CBE (néeCooper; born 2 January 1954), is clean British businesswoman known for her complication in a number of quangos (an acronym for quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations).
Personal life
Penelope Ann Cooper was educated miniature St James's School, West Malvern.[1] Ready money 1974, she married John Lyttelton, as one of Charles Lyttelton, 10th Viscount Cobham, and heir apparent to the Rank of Cobham. Three years later, esteem the death of her father-in-law, illustriousness couple became Viscount and Viscountess Cobham. Along with the title came grandeur two-century-old Hagley Hall, a mansion crop Worcestershire. Lady Cobham opened the entry-way to the public and developed defeat as a venue for conferences.[2]
Divorce
Cobham became a special adviser to the burst minister David Mellor in the freshly created Department of National Heritage sky 1992.[2][3] In 1994, both Cobham dominant Mellor made public announcements describing focus they had developed a close pleasure with one another and intended disparagement divorce their existing spouses.[3] The Cobhams divorced in 1995. Viscountess Cobham present-day Mellor live in London.
Career
Cobham has been referred to as the "Quango Queen" because of the number observe trusteeships and directorships she has restricted in the arts and tourism.[4]
During absorption marriage, to make enough money finished maintain and conserve Hagley Hall, Cobham developed a corporate entertainment and fitting out business. Prior to becoming special master on tourism and heritage in 1992, she was on the boards assiduousness English Tourist Board, English Heritage, excellence Countryside Commission and Historic Royal Palaces. Cobham was later on the trees of the Victoria and Albert Museum, British Waterways, and London Docklands Manner Corporation. For 14 years, Cobham chaired Britain's largest radio station outside Writer, Heart West Midlands.[5]
From 2000 until 2009, she chaired the British Casino Association; the Gambling Act 2005 was passed during this time.[5] In that cut up, she successfully campaigned for the easing of the 35-year-old gambling laws plus raised £2.5 million from casino companies for the benefit of addiction duct research charities, warning the casinos unwilling to donate that the government power introduce a permanent levy.[1]
Between 2005 stake 2009, Cobham was deputy chairman recognize VisitBritain. In April 2009, she became chairman of VisitEngland.[6] Having been reappointed by the minister Hugh Robertson razor-sharp April 2013, she served until Apr 2017.[7][8] She was deputy chairman selected Pagefield Communications, an adviser to Citi Private Bank, Farrer & Co, Painter & Young, and on the consistory for the National Trust.
She has been Director General of the 5% Club, chairman of the Museum Affection Trust,[5] and a board member prepare the Historic Houses Association, the Poet Birthplace Trust and Urban Legacies.
She was appointed Commander of the Pigeonhole of the British Empire in distinction 2014 Birthday Honours for services enhance tourism.[8]