Ian Morrow

Sir Ian Thomas Morrow (8 June 1912 – 19 April 2006) was a British "company doctor," accountant and briefly Liberal Party politician. In a long career, he saved many struggling businesses, the best known being Rolls-Royce.

He was born to Thomas George Morrow, a jute mill manager in Brazil, and Jamesina Hunter, of Pilmour Links, St Andrews, Scotland. Jamesina Morrow travelled home for her confinement, but only managed to reach Manchester before giving birth to Ian. Ian Morrow was a great-great-grandson of the famous golfer Old Tom Morris.

He was educated at the Dollar Academy in Scotland.

To start his working career, he apprenticed at a Dundee jute company. He father insisted he take up accounting as his profession. In 1936, he became a chartered accountant.

During the Second World War, the partnership of Robson, Morrow & Co worked for the Ministries of Supply and Production. Morrow also undertook considerable work for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration and the International Refugee Organization.

After the war, he formed a longstanding relationship with Hambros Bank, and in particular with Jocelyn Hambro, which would lead to a long, varied string of corporate assignments. He gained a reputation as a "company doctor" (a term he disliked): an expert capable of turning around troubled businesses. Perhaps his greatest challenge, and certainly his most publicised triumph, was with Rolls-Royce. The company was faced with bankruptcy during development of the RB211 aero engine. The British Government had to reluctantly step in and nationalise the business in 1971. Morrow was appointed deputy chairman (1970–71) and managing director (1971–72), and was in line to become chairman, but he resigned abruptly in October 1972 when his choice for his replacement as managing director was rejected by Michael Heseltine. Nevertheless, he had brought the crippling development costs under control and saved the company. In 1973, he was knighted for his efforts.

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