Colin Marshall, Baron Marshall of Knightsbridge

Who was Colin Marshall, Baron Marshall of Knightsbridge?

Colin Marsh Marshall, Baron Marshall of Knightsbridge was a British businessman and member of the House of Lords.

Marshall was educated at University College School, an independent school for boys in Hampstead, a suburb of North London. He left at the age of 16, and did not attend university or any other higher education institution.

His extensive experience in international business started in shipping in 1951 with Orient Steam Navigation Company, thereafter in vehicle rental and leasing for 23 years, initially with Hertz and then Avis, during which time he lived and worked in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom. In 1971 he was appointed Executive Vice President of Avis where he became President and Chief Executive in 1976, based in New York City. Following the take-over of Avis, in 1979 he was appointed Executive Vice President of Norton Simon Inc., and Co-Chairman of Avis.

Marshall was hired by Lord King of Wartnaby in 1983 as CEO of British Airways and was instrumental in the reform of the company prior to its successful privatisation in 1987.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s BA was witnessing the emergence of a dangerous rival, Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic. Virgin, which began with one route and one Boeing 747 in 1984, was beginning to emerge as a serious threat on some of BA's most lucrative routes. Following a highly publicised mercy mission to Iraq to fly home hostages of Saddam Hussein in 1991, King is reported to have told Marshall and his PR Director David Burnside to "do something about Branson"¹. This began the campaign of "dirty tricks", which ended in Branson suing King and BA for libel in 1992. King countersued Branson and the case went to trial in 1993. The court found in favour of Branson and Virgin, and ordered King and BA to pay damages to Branson of £500,000 and a further £110,000 to his airline, and legal fees of up to £3 million.