Stokes of Leyland, Donald Gresham Stokes, Baron

Stokes of Leyland, Donald Gresham Stokes, Baron
▪ 2009

      British automobile executive

born March 22, 1914, London, Eng.

died July 21, 2008, Poole, Dorset, Eng.
presided over the government-backed merger (1968) between Leyland Motor Corp. and British Motor Holdings Ltd. that resulted in the formation of British Leyland Motor Corp., Ltd. (later renamed BL PLC), the largest automaker in England. As chairman and managing director (1968–75) of British Leyland, Stokes proved unequal to the formidable task of managing the new company, which was beset with numerous problems (including too many models, obsolete plants, uncoordinated management, and poor labour relations), and stockholders urged his removal. In 1975 the automaker was nationalized by the British government, and Stokes was elevated to the largely honorary post of president (1975–79). Stokes joined Leyland in 1930 as a student engineer. Rising to the post of managing director (1963–67), he was credited with the transformation of Leyland from a small-truck and bus manufacturer into the world's leading heavy-truck exporter prior to its merger with British Motor. Stokes was knighted in 1965 and made a life peer in 1969.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Donald Stokes, Baron Stokes — Donald Gresham Stokes, Baron Stokes (22 March 1914 – 21 July 2008) was an English industrialist. He was the head of British Leyland Motor Corporation Ltd (BL) from 1968 to 1975. Contents 1 Life and career 2 British Leyland under Stokes 3… …   Wikipedia

  • Stokes, Donald Gresham Stokes, Baron — ▪ British automobile executive in full  Donald Gresham Stokes, Baron Stokes of Leyland  born March 22, 1914, London, Eng. died July 21, 2008, Poole, Dorset       British automobile executive who presided over the merger that resulted in British… …   Universalium

  • Donald Stokes — Donald Gresham Stokes, Baron Stokes (* 22. März 1914; † 21. Juli 2008) war ein britischer Industrieller. Karriere Stokes begann seine Karriere 1930 als Auszubildender bei Leyland Motors Ltd und (mit Unterbrechung für den Militärdienst von 1939… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • British Leyland Motor Corporation, Ltd. — ▪ British company       historic British automotive corporation. It was formed through the 1968 merger of British Motor Holdings Ltd. and Leyland Motor Corp. Ltd. to create the entities known as British Leyland Motor Corporation, Ltd. (1968–75),… …   Universalium

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