Sir Austin "William" Pearce CBE (1 September 1921 – 21 March 2004) was the chairman of British Aerospace from 1980 until 1987. He was educated at Devonport High School for Boys, Plymouth and the University of Birmingham.
In 1942 he left university with a degree in Chemical Engineering and joined the Petroleum Warfare Department working on incendiary devices at the same time as his doctorate.
He began his industrial career with the Agwi Petroleum Corporartion. When this became part of Esso he rose rapidly, eventually becoming managing director in 1968. In retirement he continued to hold important posts such as the Prochancellorship of the University of Surrey.
Notes
- “Who was Who” 1897-2007 London, A & C Black, 2007 ISBN 978-0-19-954087-7
- ^ "Obituary: Sir Austin Pearce". The Guardian. 20 April 2004. Archived from the original on 18 April 2019.
- Debrett's People of Today: Ed Ellis, P 1992, London, Debrett's) ISBN 1-870520-09-2
- Independent obituary
- The Times, Friday, 31 January 1969; p. 23; Issue 57473; col E Oilmen fight ports plan
- "University of Surrey announcement". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
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- 1921 births
- Engineers from Devonport, Plymouth
- People educated at Devonport High School for Boys
- Alumni of the University of Birmingham
- English chief executives
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Knights Bachelor
- Businesspeople awarded knighthoods
- People associated with the University of Surrey
- 2004 deaths
- 20th-century English businesspeople
- British business biography, 20th-century birth stubs