John Roberts (British businessman) explained

John Roberts
Birth Date:[1]
Nationality:British
Education:Bolton School
Occupation:Businessman
CEO and founder, AO World
Spouse:Sally Roberts
Children:5

John Roberts (born 1973) is a British businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is the founder and CEO of AO World, an online retailer specialising in electrical goods, and 30 year campaigner for young people including supporting youth charity, OnSide Youth Zones.

Early life

Roberts grew up in Bolton.[2] He went to Bolton School, and earned eight GCSEs, but failed his A-levels in maths, geography and economics.[3] [4]

Career

Roberts started his career as a waiter and kitchen salesman.[2]

In 2000, he founded Appliances Online, after a friend bet him £1 to set up a business.[4] In 2014, Roberts led AO World’s listing on the London Stock Exchange, valued at the time at £1.2 billion.

In May 2019, the Sunday Times Rich List put Roberts' wealth at £210 million.[5]

In February 2017, he stood down as CEO of AO World, and was succeeded by Steve Caunce.[6] Two years later, in January 2019, AO World announced that Caunce was stepping down as CEO, and Roberts was reassuming the role.[7] [8]

Roberts has said he built AO on his two personal mottos of ‘treat every customer like your gran’ and ‘make your mum proud’[9]

In September 2021, Roberts was listed 30 in the Financial Times list of the UK’s Top 100 Entrepreneurs. He won the This is Manchester Supernova Award in 2018 and the Retail Week Retail Activist Award in 2020.[10] [11] [12]

Philanthropy

Roberts has been a supporter of Bolton Lads and Girls Club for more than 30 years. In 2016, Roberts and his wife Sally gave £1.5 million to OnSide Youth Zones. He has been a Trustee of the charity since 2015. In 2020, he pledged to give OnSide Youth Zones his £20 million bonus if the AO Value Creation Plan pays out. He says he gives most of his earnings to charity.[13] [14] [15] [16] [17]

Over the last 12 months, Roberts has been an increasingly vocal campaigner to restore over £1bn of lost funding to youth infrastructure which would be matched by private philanthropy, to reform the Apprenticeship Levy[18] and to consider radical solutions to fix the care system for "looked after children".[19]

Personal life

He is married to Sally Roberts, they have five children, and live in Bolton.[4] [2] [20] It was reported that he will not allow his children to work for the company, nor will they inherit, and is "considering putting his wealth into a charitable trust".[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: John Charles ROBERTS personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK . Companies House . 1 November 2022 . en.
  2. Web site: Millionaire tells his kids they won't be inheriting £500m fortune. John. Scheerhout. 24 March 2014. manchestereveningnews.co.uk. 3 August 2018.
  3. Web site: 'Results give you options' - John Roberts, AO World. managementtoday.co.uk. 3 August 2018.
  4. Web site: Britain's Top 100 Entrepreneurs 2014: No. 7 - John Roberts, AO World. managementtoday.co.uk. 3 August 2018.
  5. News: Rich List 2019: profiles 553-599=, featuring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas. The Sunday Times. 2019-05-12. 2019-07-04. en. 0140-0460.
  6. Web site: John Charles Roberts, AO World PLC: Profile and Biography . Bloomberg.com . 1 November 2022 . en.
  7. Web site: AO World founder John Roberts spins back into top job. Deirdre. Hipwell. 1 February 2019. 1 February 2019. www.thetimes.co.uk.
  8. Web site: AO World founder John Roberts to return as CEO as Steve Caunce steps down. Elias. Jahshan. 31 January 2019. retailgazette.co.uk. 1 February 2019.
  9. Web site: 2020-11-24. Don't cry to mother if rates freebie comes back to bite. 2021-10-06. the Guardian. en.
  10. News: 2021-09-13. The UK’s top 100 entrepreneurs. Financial Times. 2021-10-06.
  11. Web site: The Shortlist & Winners '18. 2021-10-06. This is Manchester Awards 2019. en-GB.
  12. Web site: MacDonald2020-03-12T23:15:00. George. Retail Activist: AO's John Roberts on bringing kids OnSide. 2021-10-06. Retail Week. en.
  13. Web site: ONSIDE YOUTH ZONES - Charity 1125893. 2021-10-06. register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. en-GB.
  14. Web site: Roue. Lucy. 2016-01-26. AO boss gifts £1.5m to young people. 2021-10-06. Manchester Evening News. en.
  15. Web site: 2020-07-21. John Roberts makes bonus pledge to OnSide. 2021-10-06. OnSide. en.
  16. Web site: Robinson. Jon. 2021-05-09. AO investor and philanthropist Bill Holroyd unveils the secrets of a good deal. 2021-10-06. Business Live. en.
  17. Web site: John Roberts. 2021-10-06. OnSide. en.
  18. Web site: Fish. Isabella. 2024-07-08 . AO World boss calls for big companies to run training scheme . 2024-07-08 . www.thetimes.com . en.
  19. Web site: Fish . Isabella . 2024-07-08 . ‘Broken’ youth services need radical reform, says AO World boss . 2024-07-08 . www.thetimes.com . en.
  20. Web site: Husband and wife donate £1.5 million to charity. The Bolton News. 3 August 2018.

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