Ian Kinloch MacGregor Biography and Timeline

Birth of Ian Kinloch MacGregor

Birth of Ian Kinloch MacGregor

American Metal Climax

Appointed chief executive of American Metal Climax in 1966, diversifying the company into mining

American Metal Climax Leadership

Ian MacGregor became chief executive of American Metal Climax as his industrial management career expanded.

Chairman

Appointed Chairman of the British Steel Corporation

Role range: 1979-1990

British Steel Corporation

British Steel faces heavy losses before MacGregor imposes closures and redundancies.

Role range: 1979-1990

British Steel Corporation

Takes charge of British Steel amid closures and large losses.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1980-1983

Economy of Great Britain

MacGregor pursues plant closures and redundancies at British Steel after major losses.

Role range: 1979-1990

Steel Closures

Plans closures and job reductions to reduce British Steel losses.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1980-1983

British Steel Chairmanship

MacGregor took charge of British Steel during a period of serious financial losses and industrial restructuring.

British Steel Plant Closures

MacGregor pursued steel plant closures and workforce reductions as part of his management of the corporation.

British Steel Employment Reduction

British Steel continued significant staff reductions under MacGregor as management sought to cut financial losses.

British Steel Reorganisation

MacGregor oversaw restructuring programmes that altered production and employment across the nationalised steel business.

Chairman

Appointed Chairman of the National Coal Board

Role range: 1979-1990

NCB Chairmanship Appointment

Ian MacGregor was chosen to lead the National Coal Board after having chaired British Steel.

MacGregor Selected For NCB

The government selected MacGregor as National Coal Board chairman after his controversial work at British Steel.

Coal Wage Offer Dispute

The Coal Board's pay offer became a central issue in disputes with the NUM about wages overtime and future closures.

Coal Wage Negotiations

The Coal Board and NUM disputed a wage offer amid wider arguments about future mine closures.

National Coal Board (NCB)

Informs the Government he intends to cut the workforce by 64,000 over 3 yrs

Role range: 1979-1990

Reform of Government

Informs the Government he intends to cut the workforce by 64,000 over 3 yrs

Role range: 1979-1990

NCB Overtime Dispute

The union overtime ban curtailed working practices as the Coal Board and miners clashed over policy.

NCB Overtime Conflict

An NUM overtime embargo increased pressure on MacGregor's management over pay and closure policy.

British Steel Corporation

By 1983 at British Steel, there were only 71,000 staff with output almost at 1980s levels and losses reduced to 256M

Role range: 1979-1990

Economy of Great Britain

By 1983 at British Steel, there were only 71,000 staff with output almost at 1980s levels and losses reduced to 256M

Role range: 1979-1990

Government Report

A report finds that 75% of pits are making a loss

Role range: 1979-1990

Reform of Government

Informs the Government he intends to cut the workforce by 64,000 over 3 yrs. MacGregor decides to reach a break-even point by 1988. A report finds that 75% of pits are making a loss

Role range: 1979-1990

Coal Industry Restructuring

As incoming Coal Board chairman Ian MacGregor advanced a policy of limiting losses and examining economically costly pits.

NCB Management Change

Ian MacGregor moved from British Steel to the leadership of the National Coal Board.

NCB Loss Reduction Plans

MacGregor made loss reduction and restructuring priorities for the state owned coal producer.

British Steel Cost Reductions

By the end of his tenure MacGregor had substantially reduced British Steel employment and operating losses.

Coal Board Chairmanship Starts

MacGregor assumed leadership of the National Coal Board and examined its finances and uneconomic collieries.

Pit Economics Review

The new chairman sought to reduce coal industry losses and evaluate the cost of operating individual pits.

MacGregor Meets NUM Opposition

The new management approach faced strong opposition from the miners union over closures and employment.

Cortonwood Closure Announcement

The Coal Board announced plans affecting Cortonwood Colliery and triggered protests among Yorkshire miners.

NCB Cortonwood Decision

Plans to close Cortonwood Colliery became an immediate cause of the 1984 miners strike.

Cortonwood Closure Conflict

The accelerated closure of Cortonwood Colliery helped trigger the nationwide miners dispute.

Pit Closures

Has a meeting with the NUM & announces there will be 20 pit closures

Role range: 1979-1990

Coal Output Reduction

The Board proposed reducing annual coal output by about four million tonnes amid plans for colliery closures.

Twenty Colliery Closures

The proposed closure of roughly twenty mines prompted miners to mobilise against extensive job losses.

NCB Production Cuts

Coal Board management proposed a reduction in production capacity and closure of high cost pits.

MacGregor Announces Output Cuts

The Coal Board proposed cutting output and closing pits it regarded as uneconomic.