Hamish Ogston

Hamish Ogston CBE, FRSA, FRGS (born 1948) is a British businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder and former chairman of CPP Group plc.

The son of a dental surgeon, Ogston was educated at Cranleigh School. At the age of 18, he left the UK. His father gave him £50 at Euston Station and didn't see him again for a year. Ogston joined the Norwegian Merchant Navy, which took him to work across Canada. From here he joined a ship in the German Merchant Navy, leading him to travel and work in New Zealand, Australia and Tahiti. He worked his way around the world on building sites in Toronto, farms in New Zealand and in the advertising department of Esso in Sydney, Australia. Ogston subsequently attended Manchester University, where he studied Management Sciences, graduating in 1970.

Upon leaving Manchester University in 1970, Ogston co-founded Countdown PLC – Europe's first retail loyalty card company that eventually operated in 16 countries.

In 1977 Ogston co-founded Supreme Awards, which he sold to Luncheon Vouchers. Ogston also co-founded the Guinness World of Records Museum at London's Trocadero in 1979.

In 1980 he was one of the original investors in the marketing rights to the FIFA World Cup in Spain and launched Sportsworld Gp plc, a specialist hospitality, travel and event services company delivering sporting and cultural occasions such as the Olympic Games and Football World Cups.

In 1980 Ogston founded Card Protection Plan Ltd., which successfully grew into what became the CPP Group (CPP). He persevered for 13 years before the company fully recovered its startup losses and 21 years before it paid its first dividend. Ogston was also tested by a 12.5 year legal battle with Customs and Excise (HMRC) which went through 6 courts, including the House of Lords and the European Court of Justice, before coming out the victor. The judgment became a landmark case and is the most cited in VAT history. CPP grew into a company operating in 16 countries with over 11.2 million customers, 200 business partners worldwide and 2,220 employees.

Ogston's involvement in the day-to-day management of CPP ceased in 1999, but he continued to serve as the company's non-executive chairman. He retained this position until January 2010, although from July 2004 he handed over the responsibility for chairing and administering the board to Mr. Colin Lloyd, the senior independent non-executive director. In March 2010 CPP floated on the main market of the London Stock Exchange. Ogston stayed on as a non-executive director until June 2013

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