John Timpson

Sir William John Anthony Timpson CBE (born 1943) is a British businessman, the chairman and owner of Timpson, a UK shoe repair chain with over 2000 shops. He has a weekly management column in The Daily Telegraph and has written several books about his management style.

According to The Sunday Times Rich List in 2019, Timpson is worth £210 million.

Timpson was born in 1943, and educated at Oundle School and the University of Nottingham.

• High Street Heroes: The Story Of British Retail In 50 People, Icon Books Ltd (2015)
• Ask John: Straight-talking, common sense from the front line of management Paperback, Icon Books Ltd (2014)
• Upside Down Management, John Wiley & Sons (2010)
• How to Ride a Giraffe, Caspian Publishing Ltd (2008)
• Dear James: Secrets of Success from a Management Maverick, Caspian Publishing Ltd (2000)

During the EU referendum in 2016, Timpson gave his public support for leaving the EU and stated that it is "a risk worth taking".

In April 2020, during the novel coronavirus pandemic, Timpson predicted that some household names "[wouldn't] come back" and that high streets would look "somewhat different" following the lifting of restrictions imposed on the population to prevent the spread of the virus.

Together with his wife Alex, who died on 5 January 2016, he had three children, adopted two more, and fostered another 90.

His youngest son, Edward Timpson, is the MP for Eddisbury, and was previously MP for Crewe and Nantwich.

Timpson is an avid Manchester City supporter.

He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2004for services to the retail sector and was knighted in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to business and fostering.