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Sir Kenneth Russell Cork (21 August 1913 – 13 October 1991) was a British accountant and insolvency expert, and the Lord Mayor of London from 1978–1979. He is best known for chairing a major review of UK insolvency law (whose report issued in 1982 is widely referred to as the Cork Report and led to the passing of the Insolvency Act 1986).

He was a partner in Cork Gully, a well-known firm of insolvency practitioners (established in 1935 with his father, WH Cork, and Harry Gully) which in 1980 became part of Coopers & Lybrand. Cork was recognised as an "insolvency baron" who had a dominant role in that field which set him apart from mainstream accountancy.

Prior to his election of Mayor he had served as a sheriff of London for 1975–76.

He also contributed to governance of the arts, as Vice Chairman of the Arts Council and Chairman of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and guiding other bodies including the Philharmonia Orchestra and London Festival Ballet.

Family

Sir Kenneth's son, Sir Roger Cork (31 March 1947 – 21 October 2002), followed in his footsteps, both as a partner in Cork Gully and as Lord Mayor of London (1996–1997).

In 2010 Stephen Cork, great grandson of the original founder William Henry Cork, acquired Cork Gully from PwC and established Cork Gully LLP, as a new restructuring and insolvency firm in London.

Publications

• Cork on Cork: Sir Kenneth Cork Takes Stock.

References

1. Coopers & Lybrand Family Tree, ICAEW
2. "Profile – Michael Jordan of Cork Gully (Cork's successor as senior partner)". Management Today. 1 January 1993. Archived from the original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
3. ^ Kenneth Cork (1988). Cork on Cork: Sir Kenneth Cork Takes Stock. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-333-44479-5.
4. Sir Roger Cork Archived 19 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine, The Worshipful Company of Bowyers
5. "Company number 01852516". Companies House. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
6. "Cork Gully re-established by great grandson". Accountancy Age. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
7. "Cork Gully returns today: Cork continues family heritage". Insolvency News. 22 November 2010. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011.

• 1913 births
• 1991 deaths
• People educated at Alleyn Court School
• Sheriffs of the City of London
• 20th-century lord mayors of London
• 20th-century English politicians
• British accountants
• Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire