Dennis Stevenson

Dennis Stevenson (Lord Stevenson of Coddenham) was born Henry Dennistoun StevensonHosking, P. (1993) 'Profile: Master of the low profile; Dennis Stevenson's dazzling career may soon land him atop GPA.' The Independent 5th September 1993.. He was born in Edinburgh on 19 July 1945 during the last few weeks of the second world warThe Evening Standard (London). 'Sixties liberal who has 'cut it' in the City;A 'Tony crony' with a powerful resume will head merged Hali-fax-BOS'. 4th May 2001NNDB Dennis Stevenson Accessed 29th October 2008. He was educated at Glenalmond College and King's College, Cambridge UniversityNNDB Dennis Stevenson Accessed 29th October 2008.
Stevenson is a non-party aligned member of the House of Lords. In May 2000, British Prime Minister Tony Blair appointed Stevenson as Chairman of the House of Lords Appointments Commission, which is responsible for vetting all members of the "reformed" House of Lords and choosing the "independent members"White, M. (2000) Blair names Lords panel to vet 'cronies'. The Guardian 5th May 2000. Accessed 14th October 2008. He is an important 'fixer' behind the scenes in the interface between business, politics and the Arts. In business he has been a member of the boards of several companies including Economist Newspapers Ltd, HBOSUnited Kingdom Parliament REGISTER OF LORDS' INTERESTS 13th October 2008. Accessed 14th October 2008, Pearson (from 1997 to 2005) and Manpower (1998 to 2006)Forbes Dennis Stevenson Accessed 14th October 2008.
Stevenson is a 'lifelong' personal friend of Peter MandelsonGuardian 38.Dennis Stevenson 12th July 2004. Accessed 14th October 2008 and has been involved in market-friendly think tanks such as Demos and the Social Market FoundationSocial Market Foundation [www.smf.co.uk/assets/files/newsletters/SMF%20Newsletter%20July.doc Newsletter 2007] Accessed 14th October 2008. His own consultancies, including SRU and Cloaca Maxima LtdHBOS Annual Report and Accounts 2002 Accessed 14th October 2008 (named after a large Roman sewer), have important business connections.
 
SRU is a secretive consultancy which Stevenson founded with Peter Wallis in the 1970sClayton Hirst, [Telecoms Media Technology: Why the pink queen might turn deep red, The Independent. 28th July 2002. Accessed 27th September 2008, sub req'd to access full article which at the time of Demos's launch was advising the BBC governors on the future of broadcasting and Gordon Brown on Labour's industrial policy.Hosking, P. (1993) 'Profile: Master of the low profile; Dennis Stevenson's dazzling career may soon land him atop GPA.' The Independent 5th September 1993. SRU was taken over by Brunswick Group in September 2000 (Alan Parker, Brunswick's Managing Director, was also a Director of Demos from 2002-2005 and quite possibly even earlier: Annual Reports for Demos pre-2002 are not included on their websiteDemos Annual Report 2002 Accessed 28th September 2008Demos [http://www.demos.co.uk/files/File/Demos2005accounts.pdf Annual Report 2005. Accessed 28th September 2008). Stevenson has a shareholding in (and put up the money for) the New Labour-connected PR firm Lexington Communications (He holds 4% of shares in 2008United Kingdom Parliament REGISTER OF LORDS' INTERESTS 13th October 2008. Accessed 14th October 2008). He also has a shareholding in the PR group HuntsworthGordon Nesbitt, R. (2008) The New Bohemia Variant Issue number 32. Summer 2008. Accessed 14th October 2008 run by Tory peer Peter Gummer (Lord Chadlington).
In 1999 the Press Association ranked Stevenson as number 24 in its Top 50 "Powerful People" list. By late 2004, the Times Online ranked him as number 8 in its Power 100 list.Times Online 8. Lord Stevenson of Coddenham November 2004. Accessed 14th October 2008
==Early career==
===Look back... Look forward===
Dennis Stevenson addressed the Institute of Public Relations winter conference in 1973 in a speech called "Look back... Look forward", which was themed around the idea of how each generation's attitudes and behaviours are shaped by the preceding generation. Stevenson was asked to address the extent to which people in Britain "have inherited a feeling for the local community in which they live - a subject of considerable importance to him, as chairman of a new town corporation".Derriman, J (1973) 'Six People with a Purpose', Public Relations, October, p. 179
A profile of Stevenson in the IPR's journal mentions that he was a part owner of Conrad Jameson Associates Limited, a company specialising in "research for new product and market development".
The profile also mentions that Stevenson was chairman of the Independent Working Party set up by the Secretary of State for the Environment to "consult public opinion and to consider the role of voluntary movements and youth in the environment" with a view to the UK contribution at the 1972 UN Conference in Stockholm. This was the conference that created the UN Environment programme UNEP, a key body that now leads for the UN on issues of sustainable development.
===Foreign Office links===
After graduating with a Master of Arts from Kings College Cambridge, Stevenson worked for the next ten years as Chairman of Newton Aycliffe and Peterlee New Town Development Corporation "attracting Japanese investment to the Northeast.". He was appointed to that position by Tory minister Peter Walker at the age of 26 .Richard Northedge, "Stevenson: Man for All Seasons", Sunday Business, May 2, 1999, page 5.
"When I was very young, Prime Ministers (Kakuei) Tanaka and (Edward) Heath had a summit and set up an agreement to see more direct investment into the U.K. Heath then did something extraordinary--he sent me here to negotiate. I was then 26. I was sent to negotiate with Imazato-san (Koki Imazato, 1907-1985), who was the chairman of Nippon Seiko (NSK Ltd.). I spent five years negotiating that deal and afterward I was used by the British government for all direct investment," Stevenson told the Daily Yomiuri Online.Anai, I. (undated) 'Dennis Stevenson Chairman of Pearson PLC/The secrets of Stevenson's success'. Daily Yomiuri Online Accessed 28th September 2008
These links with the Foreign Office seem to have endured. In the late 1990s he was appointed to the board of the British Council, the cultural propaganda agency of the Foreign Office.British Council Board members. Accessed 22nd october 2008
==British Council==
Stevenson is on the Board of the British Council.German British Forum Speakers: Sir Dennis Stevenson Accessed 22nd October 2008
His British Council work involves their 2002 cultural propaganda programme, 'Connecting Futures', based in Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Palestinian territories, Saudi Arabia and Turkey which propagandises that these countries "continue to place the UK high on their list of favourite nations. Only 19% view Britain with less approval than before, while 18% actually look at us more favourably". Stevenson went to Ramallah giving out crayons to local kids.reference needed The British Council is described by Nicholas Cull, at that time professor of American studies at the University of Leicester, as having been "founded as an organ of international propaganda" Cull, N. (2003) "Propaganda?" British Council website. Accessed 22nd October 2008
==New Labour connections==
===Labour links===
After Cambridge, he was reportedly, briefly a member of the Labour Party and then treasurer of the Peckham Young Socialists Hosking, P. (1003) 'Profile: Master of the low profile; Dennis Stevenson's dazzling ca-reer may soon land him atop GPA.' Independent on Sunday 5th September 1993. "Then I was quite antibusiness and I set up my business to give myself the independence to do nonbusiness things because, like many people of my generation, I was what journalists might describe as left of center, though increasingly I don't think it has a meaning," he told Daily Yomiuri Online.Anai, I. (undated) 'Dennis Stevenson Chairman of Pearson PLC/The secrets of Stevenson's success'. Daily Yomiuri Online Accessed 28th September 2008
"I am a terrible intellectual snob. I would be very cross if anyone came away from meeting me and thought I was dim," he told the Sunday Times in 1996. He describes himself as a liberal, for others he is "openly arrogant and elitist".Matthew Lynn, "Patter merchant with a power base", Sunday Times, October 20, 1996 He describes Mandelson "as a close friend, but it has nothing to do with politics."Matthew Lynn, "Patter merchant with a power base", Sunday Times, October 20, 1996 The Sunday Times report also adds that he had been approached by both parties and donated to both.
 
The BBC described Stevenson as "an old friend of Peter Mandelson, whom he recruited to his management consultancy SRU"BBC News Business in the community. 2nd May 1999 in 1990 before he was an MP and after his time as Labour Party Communications Director, although almost nothing is known about the period. Sunday Business also adds Stevenson tried to buy an ITV franchise with T&GWU and a local brewer — they failed but the ITA insisted Stevenson joined the board of the winner) Richard Northedge, "Stevenson: Man for All Seasons", Sunday Business, May 2, 1999, page 5..
===Big business-Labour link man===
Stevenson was an under-recognised gateway for big business into Labour. He said that Blair 
:always wanted to make Labour into an alternative party of business. There were some big businessmen who were always pro-Labour: Lord Clive Hollick and Chris Haskins for instance. Blair wanted to meet the others, so I organised evenings where he could meet friends of mine. People running FTSE companies... Blair has involved businessmen to a huge extent... In fact he has almost delegated power to them, I think there is a legitimate question about the extent to which that is actually right.Eleanor Mills, "Doing the business with Blair and Co", Sunday Times, June 21, 1998.
In a letter to The Independent in July 2003 Stevenson wrote:
:it is true that I was a member of the Labour party ... for a few months 35 years ago! I have never been a member of a political party since and indeed we stopped all party political donations, including a substantial one to the Labour Party, when I took over as chairman of Pearson some years ago.Dennis Stevenson, letter to The Independent, July 2003
===IT in schools===
Stevenson is reported to be a "personal friend" of Tony Blair. He set up the Stevenson Commission to examine the role of IT in schoolsCowing, E. & Jamieson, A. (2001) 'NEW CHAIRMAN: BUSY BLUE BLOOD' The Scotsman. 5th May 2001. This was formally known as the Independent ICT (Information and Communications Technology) in Schools Commission 1996/97.O'Neill, B. (1998) 'A week in view'. The Guardian 19th November 1998 Subsequently he was appointed as the PM's adviser on the application of information technology to educationCowing, E. & Jamieson, A. (2001) 'NEW CHAIRMAN: BUSY BLUE BLOOD' The Scotsman. 5th May 2001. 
SRU and Lexington Communications (a Labour-connected lobbyist firm started with money from Stevenson)PATRICK HOSKING. Profile: Master of the low profile; Dennis Stevenson's dazzling ca-reer may soon land him atop GPA. Patrick Hosking reports. The Independent. 5th September 1993. got together an anti-BBC alliance to attack its free digital plan for schools (launched in 2002), "Digital Curriculum, a new licence-fee funded public service comprising interactive online learning materials in support of the school curriculum".Digital Curriculum Response, UK Dept for Culture, Media and Sport website, accessed 15 July 2009. The anti-BBC alliance included several big names in British commercial broadcasting. The front group, the Digital Learning Alliance brought together the British Educational Suppliers Association (advised by SRU) and the Publishers' Association, along with other financially interested companies which included Stevenson's Pearson Education. The other companies involved included Oxford University Press, Reed Elsevier, Granada Learning and HarperCollins (which is owned by News Corporation, parent company of The Times).BBC Online Threatens School Book Publishers. The Times 16 July 2002. Accessed through NERA Economic Consulting on 14th October 2008. 
Attempts to block the BBC's free service failed and the UK government gave it the go-ahead in January 2003.Digital Curriculum Response, UK Dept for Culture, Media and Sport website, accessed 15 July 2009.
The BBC's free service was attacked by the industry who argued that it could lead them to miss out on £400million in revenue BBC under new fire over e-learning plans, e-consultancy, 15 July 2002 .
===House of Lords Appointments Commission===
Former UK prime minister Tony Blair made Stevenson Chairman of the House of Lords Appointments Commission responsible for vetting all members of the "reformed" House of Lords and choosing the "independent members". This Commission is also referred to as the 'Stevenson Commission' and it has been criticised as a "model by which a democratic parliament can be avoided' as 'the only way anyone will become a Lords legislator, whether on the party or non-party ticket, will be by grace and favour of the Stevenson commission".Young, H. (2000) 'Comment & Analysis: Hereditaries; life peers; and now, the Stevenson lords: Next week, the pilot version of a new politician-factory cranks up'. The Guardian 7 September 2000
===English Partnerships===
Stevenson joined English Partnerships who bought the Dome site where he worked closely with Peter Mandelson in the lobbying frenzy. Manpower pledged £12m to the Dome (as did BSkyB at one point)Northedge, R. (1999) 'STEVENSON: MAN FOR ALL SEASONS' Sunday Business 2nd May 1999. Stevenson forged the deal between the Labour party and BTPopham, P. (1996) 'OUR SERIES ON THE PEOPLE JOCKEYING FOR INFLUENCE IN THE LATE NINETIES; THE NEW ESTABLISHMENT Day ten The fixers If the going gets tough for Prime Minister Blair, he'll need well-connected, heavyweight help'. The Independent 27th September 1996. He was supposedly 'recruited' by Blair in 96 "after an approach by Peter Mandelson... who Stevenson met years ago when both were involved in youth movements." Matthew Lynn, "Patter merchant with a power base", Sunday Times, October 20, 1996 Indeed their connections go right back to the British Youth Council.
===More New Labour links===
In 1998 the Sunday TimesEleanor Mills. (1998) "Doing the business with Blair and Co". Sunday Times. June 21, 1998 reports that Stevenson "helped to fill the posts" on the government's 75 new Taskforces and suggests that the "Rebranding Britain"/"Britpop" escapade was a distraction from the influx of big business onto the "Taskforces".
:New Britain is not about being groovy: we weren't really meant to be getting on down with Tone and Robin. That was just a distraction from the real project, which is bang on track. Business, not Britpop, is the order of the day and the real players are rich FTSE 100 company chairmen.Eleanor Mills, "Doing the business with Blair and Co", Sunday Times, June 21, 1998.
Jeremy Paxman commented on these task forces as follows: 
:if you have a wife with an eye on a ladyship, you can't pass up the opportunity to be part of one of these new taskforces... since this government is obviously going to be in power for a long time... the usual suspects are once again vying for power and influence.
A report by Cranfield University revealed the extent to which the Taskforces — part of Blair's "commitment to change" — were peopled by key players in British companies. Christopher Haskins of Northern Foods for instance is also on the Demos advisory board and the "New Deal" and Better Regulation Task Forces, steering British agriculture towards US-style integrated agribusiness, and British food consumption towards highly processed unhealthy preservative-packed foodReference needed. Stevenson also pushed through the government's controversial arts policy. Blair and Culture Secretary Chris Smith met senior arts figures in what was described by Number 10 as a "listening exercise". During the discussions, which was chaired by Stevenson, Blair was said to have pledged a new commitment to state-funded artsShaw, D. (1998) 'Now Blair tries to make peace with arts world'. Evening Standard 30th June 1998.
==Corporate Connections==
===Chairships===
====HBOS====
In February 2009 Stevenson, in his role as former chair of HBOS, was grilled by the UK Parliament's Treasury Committee over bringing "HBOS to the brink of collapse" through excessive expansion on the basis of the UK property market and paying big bonuses to directors."Bankers offer act of contrition", Reuters, 10 February 2009. Stevenson resigned as chair after the government revealed plans to provide a £17bn investment of new capital in HBOS. Lloyds TSB then took over HBOS in a merger."Bank chiefs quit after rescue bid", BBC News, 13 October 2008. 
In March 2005 The Independent reported that Stevenson was paid £538,000 for his chairship of HBOS, an increase on the previous year's £510,000.Julia Kollewe, "[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/bumper-year-lifts-crosbys-pay-at-hbos-40-per-cent-530476.html
Bumper year lifts Crosby's pay at HBOS 40 per cent]", The Independent, 30 March 2005, accessed February 2009.
====Manpower====
Manpower is a large American company providing temporary employment services for administrative and professional positions which was given the contract for the New Deal's 'Working Links'). Directors of Manpower include Rozanne L. Ridgway a career diplomat for 32 years, she was President of the Atlantic Council of the United StatesCenter for Naval Analyses (CNA) Leadership Board Accessed 14th october 2008; currently a director of BoeingConde Nast PortfolioRozanne L Ridgway Accessed 14th October 2008, a trustee of the Brookings Institution and George C. Marshall Foundation Our Military Kids Advisory Board: Bios Accessed 14th October 2008. Recruitment is a key aspect to Stevenson's work.
Of Manpower, Stevenson says: "That company got involved in one or two great financial scandals in Britain. It was bought by a company called Blue Arrow as a result of a crooked deal with NatWest. I was asked to be a non-executive director"Anai, I. Dennis Stevenson Chairman of Pearson PLC/The secrets of Stevenson's success Daily Yomiuri Date Unknown. Accessed 27th September 2008. Manpower was formerly known as Blue Arrow and Stevenson is reported to have undertaken an 'honourable role' (along with Norman Tebbit) in 'engineered the ousting of the former chairman and chief executive Tony Berry'Hoskings, P. (1993) 'Profile: Master of the low profile; Dennis Stevenson's dazzling ca-reer may soon land him atop GPA. Patrick Hosking reports'. The Independent. 5th September 1993. Stevenson also went on to advise the Law SocietyDavidson, E. (1998) 'CAN THE LAW SOCIETY OVERCOME THE CONTEMPT?: CHANCERY LANE'S NEW TROUBLESHOOTER IS PUSHING FOR A RADICAL OVERHAUL OF SOCIETY BUSINESS, BUT WILL EVEN THIS BE ENOUGH?' The Lawyer. 6th October 1998.
====Pearson====
As chairman of the media group Pearson plc (Stevenson joined in 86), he technically controlled the Financial Times and the The Economist, into which Stevenson introduced the Atlantic Council of the United States director Marjorie Scardino as chief executiveConde Nast Portfolio Marjorie Scardino Accessed 14th October 2008 Aleksander Kwaśniewski 2008 Annual Awards Dinner Atlantic Council 11th May 2008. Accessed 14th October 2008. He says he first met Geoff Mulgan "when I was giving a talk to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. They're very high-powered, I'm very busy, and I wanted some help. Somebody pointed me in Geoff's direction — he was still working for Gordon Brown then, as his researcher — and he was wholly wonderful, incredibly widely read... and he came up with new thoughts, interesting angles".Bedell, G (1993) 'Geoff and Martin's big idea' Independent on Sunday 24th January 1993
===Consultancy===
He also runs Cloaca Maxima Ltd (another secretive consultancy firm named after a large Roman sewer) and is a member of the British Council. Stevenson's colleague at SRU Peter Wallis (AKA Peter York) went onto the Government's FO backed Rebranding Britain Task Force; (organised by Geoff Mulgan and Mark Leonard) Stevenson has had long associations with the FO. Backed by Peter Walker (with whom he has had a long and close association) at the age of 26 he was sent by Edward Heath to negotiate with top Japanese bankers.
:'I spent five years negotiating that deal and afterward I was used by the British government for all direct investment.Anai, I. (undated) 'Dennis Stevenson Chairman of Pearson PLC/The secrets of Stevenson's success' Daily Yomiuri On-Line'. Accessed 14th October 2008
Stevenson moves easily between the areas of corporate power-broking and social policy think-tanks that provide seemingly informal initiatives exploiting the ambiguous terrain between state and private sector. He attended the 1995 Bilderberg Group meeting in Zurich Bilderberg Group 1995 Bilderberg Conference. Accessed 14th October 2008 and he joined the initial Demos advisory panel in 1993.Demos About Demos - Advisory Council Accessed 14th october 2008.
===Corporate Advisor===
Previously advisor and/or member of: 
* Consigna plc 
* British Sky Broadcasting Group plc - John Thornton of Goldman Sachs is reported to have 'persuaded Murdoch to accept Stevenson as an independent director' for BSkyBNorthedge, R. (1999) 'STEVENSON: MAN FOR ALL SEASONS'. Sunday Business 2nd May 1999) 
* The Takeover Panel 
* Aycliffe & Peterlee New Town Development Corp.
* Lazard Bros. & Co Ltd - Stevenson got this directorship because of Pearson's shareholding in the bank. The Halifax is a Lazard client, but Stevenson was chosen because it was also a client of his SRUNorthedge, R. (1999) 'STEVENSON: MAN FOR ALL SEASONS'. Sunday Business 2nd May 1999) 
* London Docklands Development Corp. 
* Tate Gallery of Modern Art - Margaret Thatcher supposedly vetoed his appointment to the Tate for being 'a left-of-centre businessman, undermining and subversive', but Tim Bell interceded on his behalf and Stevenson became ChairmanCork, R. (1998) 'Time for a change of sugar daddy'. The Times 17th April 1998 
* British Technology Group 
* Thames Television plc, 
* Tyne Tees Holdings plc, 
* AerFi group, 
* J Rothschild Assurance Holdings plc, 
* Smithfield Development Ltd, 
* St James Place Capital plc
* London Business School - Governor 
* London School of Economics - Governor
==Cultural links==
Stevenson is Chancellor of the University of the Arts and a Trustee of the Tate Gallery Foundation (he was formerly chairman of the GalleryMedia Guardian Dennis Stevenson 12th July 2004. Accessed 22nd October 2008) and Royal Botanic Garden Foundation, Edinburgh.UK Parliament Register of Interests Accessed 22nd October 2008
In March 2007, he was appointed as one of four Independent Directors of Culture and Sport Glasgow (CSG). Advocating the devolution of cultural and leisure provision from city council control, he was quoted as saying: 
:From my experience on the board of the Tate Gallery I know that freeing an arts institution from municipal control can be a transforming experience. Bridget McConnell has already done wonders for Glasgow under municipal control. Now, armed with this new tool, she and the city could help the whole of the Central Belt to realise its potential as one of the richest cultural areas of Europe.Magnus Linklater, 'A little miracle in the city of culture' Scotland on Sunday, 3 September 2006, 14. 
As of April 2008, his published contribution to the Board of CSG has involved asking about the upper limit of cheques, about remote attendance of meetings and about whether declarations of interest need to appear on the Board’s agenda or whether ‘to declare such interests as and when they arose under a specific item of business’.Culture and Sport Glasgow, Minutes of Meeting of Board of Directors, 4 September 2007.
==Career affiliations==
* 1971-1980 Peterlee and Aycliffe New Town CorporationMatthew Lynn 'Patter merchant with a power base' Sunday Times, October 20, 1996
* 1971 Negotiates for the British government (Foreign and Commonwealth Office with Japanese bankers.
* 1972 contributed to the UN Conference in Stockholm
* 1973 founds SRU with Peter Wallis
* 1973 Stevenson addressed the Institute of Public Relations winter conference
* 1986 Joins board of Pearson
* 1998 joins Manpower Board. A position he held until 2006NNDB Dennis Stevenson Accessed 29th October 2008
* 1990 Recruits Peter Mandelson to SRU
* 1993 Meets Geoff Mulgan at the Council on Foreign Relations
* 1993 Demos founded
* 1993-2004 Demos Advisory panel
* 1994 - 2000 board member with British Sky BroadcastingNNDB Dennis Stevenson Accessed 29th October 2008 
* 1995 Stevenson attended the Bilderberg Group meeting in Zurich
* 1996 becomes chair of the board at Pearson
* 1996/97 is appointed to the 'Stevenson Commission' formally known as The Independent ICT (Information and Communications Technology) in Schools Commission 1996/97
* 1998 Stevenson advises the Law Society
* Late 1990s Stevenson was appointed to the board of the British Council
* May 1999 appointed Director of Halifax HBOS Stevenson Dennis. accessed February 2006. 
* July 1999 became Chairman of Halifax HBOS Stevenson Dennis. accessed February 2006
* December 1999 - Stevenson left his role with the Board of English PartnershipsEnglish Partnerships 'Annual Report 1999 - 2000'. Accessed 29th October 2008
* 2000 SRU sold to Brunswick
* September 2001 became Chairman of HBOS plc
* 2000 appointed as Chairman of the House of Lords Appointments Commission
* 2002 -(at least until) 2006 appointed to the International Advisory Board of Scottish Development International. Stevenson is also listed as a Director for Cloaca Maxima LtdHBOS Annual Report and Accounts 2002 Accessed 14th October 2008 
* 2006 Director, Economist Newspapers Ltd Chairman, HBOS plc, Director, Manpower
* 2007, he was appointed as one of four Independent Directors of Culture and Sport Glasgow (CSG)
* 2008 Stevenson continues as Chairman of HBOS plc and as Director of Economist Newspapers Ltd. He is also now Director of The Western Union Company and for Loudwater Investment Partners LtdUnited Kingdom Parliament REGISTER OF LORDS' INTERESTS 13th October 2008. Accessed 14th October 2008
* 2008 Stevenson is also Chancellor of the University of the Arts and a Trustee of the Tate Gallery Foundation (he was formely chairman of the Gallery) and Royal Botanic Garden Foundation, Edinburgh
* 2008 - Stevenson is a speaker at the German British Forum conferenceGerman British Forum Speakers:Dennis Stevenson Accessed 22nd October 2008
* 2008 - Stevenson is one of 2 outside members of the Takeover Panel appointed by the Governor of the Bank of England to represent industryGerman British Forum Speakers:Dennis Stevenson Accessed 22nd October 2008.
==Directorships==
As of July 2009:Dennis Stevenson: Board of Directors Memberships, BusinessWeek, accessed 13 July 2009
*2006-Present: Former Chairman, Member of Nomination Committee and Governor of Bank of Scotland, HBOS plc
*2006-Present: Director, Member of Compensation & Benefits Committee and Member of Corporate Governance Committee, Western Union Co.
*1999-Present: Chairman and Member of Nomination Committee, Halifax plc
*1997-Present: Former Chairman, Pearson plc
*Former Director, Manpower Inc.
*Director, British Sky Broadcasting Group plc
*Chairman of HBOS plc and Director of HBOS plc, Bank Of Scotland plc
*Non-Executive Director, Loudwater Investment Partners Limited
==Shareholdings==
In 2008, Stevenson is listed as having 'significant' shareholding in the following companiesUnited Kingdom Parliament REGISTER OF LORDS' INTERESTS 13th October 2008. Accessed 14th October 2008:
* Bamboo Investments Ltd Matrix-E-ventures VCT plc
* Baronsmead VCT
* Business Boffins Ltd
* Close AIM VCT
* Eclipse AIM VCT 2
* Electra Kingsway VCT 2
* First Close Investment Fund VCT
* Hairnet UK Ltd
* Hatpin plc
* HBOS plc
* JBOL Ltd
* Lexington Communications Ltd
* Manpower Inc
* Matrix Income & Growth VCT
* Matrix Unicorn AIM VCT
* Northern Venture Trust VCT
* Proven growth and Income VCT
* Puma VCT 2
==Resources==
*British Council Britain still admired by Arab and Muslim people after 9/11 Shows British Council Survey, Press Release, 11 June 2002
*Lord Stevenson's visit May 2002, British council website
==Resources==
# Nick Cohen 'This could be you: The new Lords won't be elected but will be selected by a panel, so why not apply now?' The Observer Sunday September 17, 2000
#Jennifer Hill, 'Lord Stevenson to quit Pearson role but retain chairmanship of HBOS'The Scotsman Mon 28 Feb 2005 
#"Graduation day at Cranfield campus 2003 - Lord Stevenson of Coddenham CBE", Cranfield University Alumni, 2003.
#"Chairman Pearson: Dennis Stevenson", Pearson, accessed February 2006.
#"Stevenson Dennis", HBOS, accessed February 2006.
#"Chairman: Lord Stevenson of Coddenham CBE", House of Lords Appointments Commission, January 18, 2006.
#"Business in the community", BBC, 12 June, 1999. 
#"Top 50 Powerful People", Press Association, October 23, 1999.
#Michael White, "Blair names Lords panel to vet 'cronies': Lords reform: special report", Guardian (UK), May 5, 2000.
#British Council, East Jerusalem Britain still admired by Arab and Muslim people after 9/11 Shows British Council Survey, Press Release (11 June 2002)
#British Council, East Jerusalem, Lord Stevenson's visit (May 2002)
#"Mandy's friend is in frame for BBC Chairman's job", The Evening Standard (London), February 26, 2004, Section C, page 10. (Sub req'd)
#Chris Blackhurst, "Stevenson the fixer in the M&S battle", TheIsMoney.co.uk, 9 June 2004. (This was originally published in the Evening Standard).
#"The Power 100: 8: Lord Stevenson of Coddenham", Times Online, November 02, 2004.
#Ikuo Anai, "Dennis Stevenson Chairman of Pearson PLC/The secrets of Stevenson's success", Daily Yomiuri Online, undated, accessed February 2006.
#Mark Kleinman, "Lord Stevenson makes a surprise exit from Pearson",The Sunday Times, February 27, 2005.
#Jennifer Hill, "Lord Stevenson to quit Pearson role but retain chairmanship of HBOS", The Scotsman February 28, 2005.
#Jane Martinson, "Pearson braced for grilling over top executives' pay", Guardian, April 25, 2005, page 24.
==References==
[[Category:Politician|Stevenson, Dennis]Stevenson, DennisStevenson, DennisStevenson, DennisStevenson, DennisStevenson, Dennis