Tim Parker

Tim Parker is the current Non-Executive Director and Chairman at Samsonite. He has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors since March 2011 with his responsibilities including leadership of the Board and its effective function. In October 2014, he was also appointed Non-Executive Chairman of the company.

Parker first joined Samsonite in November 2008, serving as Non-Executive Chairman of the consolidated group until January 2009, before becoming Chairman and Chief Executive Officer until September 2014. During this period, he successfully navigated the company through the headwinds of the 2008 financial crisis, returning to profitability within a deeply affected travel sector.

Tim Parker’s career began as an economist within the Treasury following graduation from the University of Oxford in 1977 with an MA in PPE. He has subsequently gone on to hold many high-profile roles within the British business world with his illustrious career encompassing chief executive positions at The AA, Kwik-Fit, Clarks and Kenwood.

Noted for his ability to turnaround ailing businesses and return them to profitability, he was appointed as Chief Executive at Clarks in 1996. His business ingenuity saw footwear profits increase by 150% within five years of his appointment, while he was awarded an “Award for Enterprise” by the late Queen in 2001.

In 2002, Tim Parker moved to Kwik-Fit, where alongside CVC Capital Partners – one of the world’s largest private equity firms – he was involved in the completion of the £340m management buy-in from Ford. During his two-year tenure, Parker improved operating profit near three-fold to c£60m before joining The AA in 2004.

Involved in the completion of the organisation’s £1.75bn purchase from Centrica, Parker played an instrumental role in brand rejuvenation, overseeing a re-establishment in membership growth and an increase in EBITDA from £120m in 2004 to £305m in 2007.

Alongside his chief executive positions, Parker has also undertaken Non-Executive directorships within the pharmaceutical and financial services industries including Alliance Boots and Legal & General.

Beyond the world of business, Tim Parker takes an active interest in the arts. Since 2009, he has been both the owner and chair of British Pathé. He also served on the board of the Royal Academy of Music, retiring in August 2024.

Tim Parker also holds an MA in Business Studies from the London Business School.