British Airways
He was appointed Chairman of the British Airways Board in 1971 after being recruited by John Davies, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in the government of Edward Heath. Nicolson served for four years, during which he had the responsibility of uniting the two parts which had previously run as British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways. Nicolson had no previous experience of the airline industry and also felt that the Aerospace Minister Michael Heseltine interfered with his work. However, he succeeded in integrating the schedules and the newly-merged airline launched publicly in 1974.
A member of the Institute of Directors council from 1971 to 1976 and of the council of the Confederation of British Industry from 1972, Nicolson was made Chairman of Rothmans International plc in 1975 after leaving British Airways. He chaired the CBI's Environment Committee in the late 1970s. He received a Knighthood in 1975.
Read more about this topic: David Nicolson
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