John Methven

Sir Malcolm John Methven (14 February 1926 – 23 April 1980) was a British businessman who was the Director General of the Confederation of British Industry from 1976 to 1980.

Early life Malcolm John Methven was born on 14 February 1926 in Ledbury, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm David Methven OBE, and his wife, Helen Marion Watson.

Methven was educated at Mill Hill School and then studied law at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. There he was a Tapp exhibitioner. He gained his law tripos in 1949 and qualified as a solicitor in 1950.

Personal life and death In 1952 he married Margaret Field Nicholas, daughter of Air Commodore Charles Henry Nicholas (1894–1966). They had three daughters before divorce in 1977. Later in 1977 he married Karen Jane Caldwell, daughter of Walter Anderson Caldwell, a research chemist.

Recognition Methven was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1978.

A bronze bust of Methven by Franta Belsky stands at the entrance of the Methven Room at CBI headquarters at Centre Point in London.