Draft:Anthony George Ball (businessman)

Anthony George "Tony" Ball, MBE (born 14 November 1934) is a former British automotive industry business executive, marketer, and public speaker.

Early life and education
Anthony George Ball was born on 14 November 1934 in Bridgwater, to parents Harry Ball and Mary Irene Ball. Ball attended the local Grammar School in Bridgwater.

Career
Ball was an apprenticeship at Austin Motor Company from 1951 to 1955. Ball's father, Harry, had run a small Austin dealership in Bridgwater and it was Ball's intention that he would eventually return home to take over the dealership after completing his apprenticeship. Ball was voted apprentice of the year in 1955.

Ball was rapidly integrated into Austin's business and worked a variety of roles, helping to launch of the Mini in August 1959, and later being appointed UK car sales manager from 1962 to 1966.

Ball then took on the role of sales and marketing executive at British Motor Corporation from 1966 to 1967. He then served as chairman and managing director of Barlow Rand UK Motor Group from 1967 to 1978, including a spell as managing director for Barlow Rand Ford in South Africa (1971-1973) and for Barlow Rand European Operations (1973-1978).

Returning to British Leyland in 1978, Ball became managing director of Overseas Trading Operations. He was appointed deputy managing director of Austin Motor Company in 1979 and subsequently chairman and managing director of British Leyland Europe & Overseas until 1982. During this period, he was also a director at BL Cars Ltd and was responsible for the launch of the Austin Metro in 1980.

In 1983, Ball founded Tony Ball Associates plc, a company specialising in industrial theatre, motivational conferences, and product launches.

Notable Responsibilities

 * Marketing Advisor for Secretary of State for Energy, 1984-87; Secretary of State for Wales, 1987-91.
 * The production and staging of the 1991 Rugby World Cup opening ceremony at Twickenham.
 * The production and staging of both the opening and closing ceremonies of Euro '96, held at Wembley Stadium.
 * Marketing Advisor for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders for British International Motor Show.
 * The Creation and production of the Lloyds Bank's Playwright of the Year Awards

Awards and honours

 * In 1980, he was appointed Freeman of the City of London and became a Liveryman of the Worshipful Co. of Coach Makers and Coach Harness Makers.


 * His contributions to the Automotive industry in the United Kingdom led to him being awarded the Fellowship of the Institute of Marketing in 1981 and the Fellowship of the City and Guilds of London.
 * In 1984, Ball received the Prince Philip Medal from CGLI for his outstanding lifetime contribution to British marketing.


 * In 1986, Ball became a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire MBE for services to the energy industry.
 * In 2016, he received the Outstanding Lifetime Individual Achievement Award for his services to the motor industry from the Institute of Motor Industry.

Private life
Ball first married Ruth Parry Davies in 1957. The couple had three children: Kevin (born in 1958), Michael Ball (born in 1962), and Katharine (born in 1970). Ball and Davies divorced in 1997. Ball later married Jan Kennedy, a talent agent and managing director of Billy Marsh Associates in 2000.