Sir Ian McGregor

Though educated in Scotland at the Royal College of Science and Technology, he worked first in the U.S. before returning to the U.K in 1977. At that time he was deputy chair of British Leyland, but by 1980 he became chair of the British Steel Corporation. The British steel industry was in need of massive restructuring and cutbacks, which McGregor helped to engineer. His success led to his being named chairman of the National Coal Board (1983–86), another industry in severe decline. In the face of vociferous opposition from trade unions, McGregor oversaw the reorganizations and layoffs that helped the industries to survive.