Charles Lumsden (1955-2020)
The late Charles Lumsden read PPE at Oxford before qualifying as a chartered accountant (ACA) with Peat Marwick, now KPMG. He started work at Hambros Bank in 1983, where he was in charge of credit analysis before becoming a manager looking after smaller companies across all sectors. In 1986, he became shareholder and main board director with a financial services company, the Levitt Group.
In 1991, he used the twin experiences of banking and the Levitt Group to start his own business as a company ‘doctor’ turning around companies in distress. In 1992, he was introduced to ATI and, as both company doctor and shareholder, he reduced overheads, invested in the all-important capital equipment and finally took a controlling shareholding of the business in 2006.
He believed in the importance of culture and of a flat management structure. He was also committed to training and had a 100 per cent record in putting ATI employees through various training programmes. He only wished the Government would have done more to help small businesses.
He lived in Shropshire with his wife, young daughter and two dogs, while his stepson works in New York for the international investment bank, BNP Paribas. He also farmed on a small scale. Outside work, his interests were bridge, skiing (as his country sports days were over) and cooking.
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