It was lucky for both BP and Dick
Olver that he changed his mind after initially declining their job offer. Thirty years later he had become one of the multinational
oil and gas company's most respected and talented managers - rising to be
deputy chief executive. As Building Bridges recounts, along the way he had
crossed many bridges - some over very troubled waters.
After leaving BP, Dick's remarkable
career didn't stop there. He was appointed chairman of Britain's leading
international defence contractor BAE Systems at a critical time when a steady new hand on the tiller was
required to steer the company through to the next delicate stages of
development - salvaging its reputation and ensuring its emergence as one of the
biggest defence companies in the world.
Never one to stand still, his business and philanthropic
activities have continued apace with new ventures - particularly guiding emergent
companies.
Dick's great skill of getting
the very best out of people and teams comes through with the fascinating
details in this compelling autobiography.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
"Olver is a modest man. But he has little reason to be
modest about what he did" Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles KCMG LVO (Former diplomat)
"Dick is a gifted businessman. But it was his ability
to inspire people around the world - no matter their background or their role -
that made him different. It was - magical!" Bernard Looney (Former CEO BP)
"A rare opportunity to read a personal story of
extraordinary breadth of experience, including some personal crises along the
way. And everywhere, the author's personal belief in the importance of
individuals and empathy shines through." Sir John A Manzoni KCB (Former BP Executive and
Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary (2014-2020))
"Everyone who reads this autobiography will find its
contents fascinating and I certainly did so.
During his career, Dick demonstrated that he had the qualities that are
required by the leader of huge companies operating around the globe. He certainly succeeded." The Rt Hon Lord Woolf, CH (Former Lord Chief Justice and
President of the Courts of England & Wales)
Sprache
Verlagsort
Illustrationen
Maße
Höhe: 240 mm
Breite: 162 mm
Dicke: 24 mm
Gewicht
ISBN-13
978-1-910533-78-9 (9781910533789)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Sir Richard Olver (universally known as Dick) was born in
Woodford Green just outside London in 1947. He graduated from City University with a First
Class Honours degree in Civil Engineering. After a brief period working in the
government's construction unit building roads and bridges, he moved to BP and
over thirty years later he was appointed deputy CEO.
Next, he moved to the defence industry to become Chairman
of BAE Systems from 2004 to 2014.
Dick has also held a number of board and advisory roles with
companies such as Reuters and HSBC, as well as being on Prime Minister Gordon
Brown's Business Council for Britain and Prime Minister David Cameron's Business
Advisory Group.
Dick was knighted in 2013 for services to business and
his contribution to UK corporate governance. He is married with two daughters
and spends a lot of time in the Devon and the west country where he has strong
Olver family roots.
Contents
Foreword
Chapter 1
Eureka
Chapter 2
Beginnings
Chapter 3
British Petroleum
Chapter 4
Time in the Sun
Chapter 5 Time
in a Colder Climate
Chapter 6
Further Education
Chapter 7
Family Worries
Chapter 8
Britoil
Chapter 9
Back in the USA
Chapter 10
Above Ground Challenges
Chapter 11
Running the World
Chapter 12
Top Table
Chapter 13
Making Magic
Chapter 14
BP Explorer
Chapter 15
Reputation
Chapter 16
Peak Production
Chapter 17
BAE
Chapter 18
Taking the Helm
Chapter 19
Bolt from the Blue
Chapter 20
Under Fire
Chapter 21
Change Agent
Chapter 22
Atlantic Rally
Chapter 23
TNK-BP
Chapter 24
Back to BAE Systems: Salvaging Reputation
Chapter 25
Change at the Top
Chapter 26
Threats and Opportunities Abroad
Chapter 27
Board Changes
Chapter 28
Settlements
Chapter 29
Working for Britain
Chapter 30
The Biggest Defence Company?
Chapter 31
Stepping Down
Chapter 32
Retirement? What Retirement?
Chapter 33
From Global to Local
Chapter 34
Turning Point
Endnotes
Acknowledgements
