Brian Dennis McGowan (born 1945) is the co-founder of Williams Holdings, one of the United Kingdom's largest conglomerates.
Educated at Isleworth Grammar School, Brian McGowan initially trained at a firm of accountants in London.[1]
McGowan joined London & Northern, a minor conglomerate, before moving to P&O and then becoming Managing Director of Sime Darby in Hong Kong.[1]
In 1991, together with Nigel Rudd, he acquired a majority stake in W Williams, a small Welsh engineering business and, as Chief Executive,[2] expanded it into one of the United Kingdom's largest conglomerates.[1] He retired from the business in the early 1990s.[1]
He then became Chairman of House of Fraser in 1993.[1] From 2004 to 2008 he was Chairman of Rentokil Initial.[3] From 1997 to 2009 he was also Chairman of Umeco plc.[4]
Since 2002 he has been chairman of international corporate finance advisory firm Catalyst Corporate Finance.[5]