Derek Higgs

Sir Derek Alan Higgs (3 April 1944 – 28 April 2008) was an English businessman and merchant banker. He was knighted in 2004. His father, Alan Higgs, was a multimillionaire through property businesses in the Midlands.

Early life Sir Derek was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire and was educated at Solihull School, and in 1963 he went to the University of Bristol and graduated in Economics and Accounting in 1966. He was also a board member of several companies including Prudential, British Land, and Coventry City Football Club.

In October 2005 he became the chairman of the Alliance & Leicester bank and worked there through difficult times, which were partly caused by the credit crunch that took effect during 2007 in Britain.