New university role for ex-football chairman

A SUCCESSFUL businessman is returning as chancellor to the Yorkshire university which helped to launch his career.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Jan 2013, 06:00 BST

Sir Bob Murray will be installed as Leeds Metropolitan University’s new chancellor on Monday next week.

He studied accountancy at Leeds Met, when it was known as Leeds Polytechnic, and went on to enjoy a successful life in business.

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He is also famous for his role as a long serving chairman of Sunderland football club.

Sir Bob joined Wetherby-based kitchen manufacturers George A Moore as a financial accountant and in 1973 was head-hunted by Ladyship Industrial Holdings and moved to Gower Furniture in Halifax as general manager.

In 1978, he co-founded Spring Ram, a company which targeted the home improvement market and by 1989 was seeing profits of £22m a year. He then founded two new companies, Omega PLC and Sterling Capitol PLC, focusing on kitchens and property.

Sir Bob is currently non-executive chairman of Omega PLC, the Yorkshire-based branded kitchen manufacturer, and Sterling Capitol PLC, a property development and investment company with headquarters in Leeds city centre.

A devoted fan of Sunderland football club, Sir Bob became chairman in 1986 and spearheaded the club’s move to the purpose-built Stadium of Light in 1997.

Related topics:YorkshireSunderlandHalifax