William Arthur Hobhouse (born September 1956) is an English businessman and investor, former chairman of the furniture store chain

Heal's Heal's ("Heal and Son Ltd") is a British furniture retail company comprising seven stores, selling a range of furniture, lighting and home accessories. For over two centuries, it has been known for promoting modern design and employing t ...

. He was appointed High Sheriff of Hertfordshire in March 2017.

Early life

He is the son of

Henry Hobhouse Henry Hobhouse may refer to: * Henry Hobhouse (archivist) (1776–1854), English archivist * Henry Hobhouse (East Somerset MP) Henry Hobhouse (1 March 1854 – 25 June 1937) was an English landowner and Liberal, and from 1886 Liberal Unionis ...

(1924–2016), and the grandson of Sir Arthur Hobhouse, the Liberal politician. Hobhouse was educated at

Bristol University , mottoeng = earningpromotes one's innate power (from Horace, ''Ode 4.4'') , established = 1595 – Merchant Venturers School1876 – University College, Bristol1909 – received royal charter , type ...

, where he studied Economics and Economic History. He worked for

Associated British Foods Associated British Foods plc (ABF) is a British multinational food processing and retailing company headquartered in London, England. Its ingredients division is the world's second-largest producer of both sugar and baker's yeast and a major pr ...

during university holidays, and the company subsequently paid for his education at business school.

Career

As a retailer, Hobhouse has worked with high street names such as

Tie Rack Tie Rack was a United Kingdom, British-based Necktie, tie retailer that sold scarves, cufflinks, and many other items of clothing. The stores were often small due to the nature of the Product (business), product, and as such, were found in airpor ...

, Whittard of Chelsea, Jack Wills, and Heal's, to restaurants such as Villandry and Le Pain Quotidien. Hobhouse has been the CEO of

, and

Whittard of Chelsea Whittard of Chelsea is a British chain of shops selling coffee, tea and related products. It was started by Walter Whittard in 1886, and remained in his family until 1973. In 1996 it was floated on the Alternative Investment Market, and expande ...

, as well as chairman of

Jack Wills Jack Wills is a British clothing brand founded in Salcombe, Devon, in 1999. History Peter Williams and Robert Shaw founded the brand in 1999. Williams was 23 when the first store opened at 22 Fore Street, Salcombe, and it was created with � ...

and

Explore Learning ExploreLearning is a Charlottesville, Virginia-based company which operates a large library of interactive online simulations for mathematics and science education in grades 3–12 called 'Gizmos'. ExploreLearning also makes Reflex, an online ...

among others. In March 2017 Will Hobhouse was appointed High Sheriff of Hertfordshire and his term of office runs until April 2018.

Personal life

Hobhouse is married to

Kate Hobhouse Kate Hobhouse (née Weston) is a British heiress, businesswoman and philanthropist. She is the chairman of Fortnum & Mason, a luxury department store owned by her family and located on Piccadilly in Mayfair, London. Early life Kate Hobhouse is th ...

, daughter of

Garry Weston Garfield Howard "Garry" Weston CBE (April 28, 1927 – February 15, 2002) was a Canadian businessman who was active in the United Kingdom. Early life Born in Toronto, Ontario, he was the son of Reta (née Howard) and W. Garfield Weston, owner ...

, and chair of

Fortnum & Mason Fortnum & Mason (colloquially often shortened to just Fortnum's) is an upmarket department store in Piccadilly, London, with additional stores at The Royal Exchange, St Pancras railway station, Heathrow Airport in London and K11 Musea In Hong ...

and a trustee of the

Garfield Weston Willard Garfield Weston (26 February 189822 October 1978) was a Canadian businessman and philanthropist who was a member of the prominent Weston family. He led George Weston Limited and its various subsidiaries and associated companies, includin ...

charitable foundation. They have five children and lived in

Soho, London Soho is an area of the City of Westminster, part of the West End of London. Originally a fashionable district for the aristocracy, it has been one of the main entertainment districts in the capital since the 19th century. The area was develo ...

until 2006 when they moved to

Sarratt Sarratt is both a village and a civil parish in Three Rivers District, Hertfordshire, England. It is situated north of Rickmansworth on high ground near the county boundary with Buckinghamshire. The chalk stream, the River Chess, rising just no ...

Hertfordshire Hertfordshire ( or ; often abbreviated Herts) is one of the home counties in southern England. It borders Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire to the north, Essex to the east, Greater London to the south, and Buckinghamshire to the west. For govern ...

. He has taken an active role in village life, particularly focussing on the village shop and Holy Cross Church.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hobhouse, Will 1956 births Living people English businesspeople

Will Will may refer to: Common meanings * Will and testament, instructions for the disposition of one's property after death * Will (philosophy), or willpower * Will (sociology) * Will, volition (psychology) * Will, a modal verb - see Shall and will ...

British Eurosceptics High Sheriffs of Hertfordshire Weston family