Sir John Michael Sunderland, CBE FRSA, was born on 24 August 1945 and raised in Lytham St Annes. His early years were shaped by his family—father Harry Sunderland, mother Joyce Farnish, and sister Ann Marie. He attended King Edward VII School in Lytham St Annes before furthering his education at the University of St Andrews, where he earned a Master of Arts degree.
A respected figure in British business, Sunderland made a name for himself in the corporate world, eventually serving as President of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) from 2004 to 2006. His tenure at the CBI focused on restoring confidence in the business sector following a series of high-profile corporate scandals. He has also held key leadership roles in several major companies, most notably Cadbury Schweppes, where he spent four decades shaping the brand’s global success.
Sunderland joined Cadbury Limited in 1968, gaining experience across the confectionery and soft drinks divisions. His leadership journey saw him working with Cadbury Ireland, Cadbury Schweppes South Africa, and serving as a founding Director of the Coca-Cola Schweppes joint venture in 1987. He later became Managing Director of Trebor Bassett before being appointed Managing Director of the Confectionery Stream and joining the Cadbury Schweppes Board in 1993. His rise continued with his appointment as Chief Executive in 1996 and later Chairman in 2003, a position he held until his retirement in 2008.
His contributions to British business were recognised when he was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2006 for his services to industry. Beyond Cadbury, he has played key roles in various organisations, including serving as a Non-Executive Director on the Barclays board, a Director of the Financial Reporting Council, an Adviser to CVC Capital Partners, an Association Member of BUPA, and a Governor of Reading University. In 2010, he was appointed Chancellor of Aston University, Birmingham, officially installed in May 2011 at a prestigious ceremony attended by academic and civic leaders.
Despite his global success, Sunderland has maintained a strong connection to his roots in Lytham St Annes. On 3 July 2008, he returned to King Edward VII School as a guest of honour on Foundation Day, where he presented prizes and shared an inspiring speech with students. Though he initially claimed to have no “words of wisdom,” he encouraged pupils to challenge the impossible and question authority in their pursuit of success. Reflecting on his own school days, he recounted an anecdote about his headmaster once calling him a “distinctly average boy” in a school report—a remark that, instead of discouraging him, fuelled his determination to think independently and strive for excellence.
Today, Sir John remains a highly influential business leader, serving as Chairman of Merlin Entertainments Group, a Non-Executive Director of AFC Energy PLC, and continuing his involvement with Reading University, the Financial Reporting Council, and CVC Capital Partners. Over his career, he has also led multiple trade organisations, including the Confederation of British Industry, the Chartered Management Institute, the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers, and the UK Food and Drink Federation. His extensive contributions to business and education have cemented his legacy as one of Britain’s most distinguished corporate figures.
Sir John Michael Sunderland, CBE FRSA
