14 Facts About Simon Wolfson

Simon Wolfson is the son of the former Next chairman, The Baron Wolfson of Sunningdale, who was a Conservative life peer.

Wolfson's father, Lord Wolfson of Sunningdale, was a former chairman of Next and Great Universal Stores, as well as being a Conservative life peer.

Simon Wolfson attended Radley College, near Abingdon, followed by studying law at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Simon Wolfson joined Next as sales assistant in its Kensington branch in 1991.

Simon Wolfson was elevated within the company rapidly, being appointed to the board of directors in 1997, culminating in his appointment as chief executive in August 2001 but leading at least one city analyst to make allegations of nepotism.

Simon Wolfson is a prominent supporter of the Conservative Party, having donated to David Cameron's campaign in the 2005 leadership election and co-chaired the party's Economic Competitiveness policy review.

Simon Wolfson was named by The Daily Telegraph as the 37th-most important British conservative in 2007.

Simon Wolfson was one of 35 signatories to an open letter calling on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, to press ahead with the coalition government's plans to reduce the public finance deficit in one term in the face of opposition.

On 18 June 2010, Simon Wolfson was created The Baron Simon Wolfson of Aspley Guise, of Aspley Guise in the County of Bedfordshire, and was introduced in the House of Lords on 6 July 2010.

Simon Wolfson was reported as being a supporter of Brexit in 2016.

In January 2017 Simon Wolfson said the Government should declare its negotiating objectives and not rush things.

In 2022, Simon Wolfson suggested a tax on recruiting foreign workers as trade off to allow greater numbers of foreign workers into Britain.

In December 2016, Simon Wolfson was appointed to the Chair of the Open Europe think-tank.

Simon Wolfson married Eleanor Shawcross, daughter of William Shawcross, in 2012.