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{{Short description|American-British businessman}}
{{Short description|British businessman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Use British English |date=October 2015}}
{{Use British English |date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
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| image =
| image =
| alt =
| alt =
| caption = Littner at the [[University of West London]], 2016
| caption =
| birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name -->
| birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name -->
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1949|5|4|df=yes}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1949|5|4|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[New York City]], U.S.
| birth_place = New York City, U.S.
| citizenship = British (1990–present)<br>American (1949–2018)
| citizenship = British (1990–present)<br />American (1949–2018)
| other_names =
| other_names =
| occupation = Businessman
| occupation = Businessman
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| notable_works =
| notable_works =
| spouse = {{marriage|Thelma Littner|1976}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Thelma Littner|1976}}
| children = Anthony Littner<br>Alex Littner<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/the-apprentice/10168907/The-Apprentices-Claude-Littner-says-Call-that-a-business-plan-A-10-year-old-could-do-better.html |title=The Apprentice's Claude Littner says: Call that a business plan? A 10-year-old could do better |publisher=Telegraph |date= |accessdate=18 November 2015}}</ref>
| children = Anthony Littner<br />Alex Littner<ref name="Telegraph">{{Cite web |title=The Apprentice's Claude Littner says: Call that a business plan? A 10-year-old could do better |date=9 July 2013 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/the-apprentice/10168907/The-Apprentices-Claude-Littner-says-Call-that-a-business-plan-A-10-year-old-could-do-better.html |access-date=18 November 2015 |publisher=Telegraph}}</ref>
}}
}}


'''Claude Littner''' (born 4 May 1949)<ref name="RT"/> is an American-British business executive and the former chairman of [[Viglen]], [[Powerleague]] [[ASCO Numatics|ASCO]], Azzuri Communications, Deputy Chairman of Blacks Leisure and former chief executive of [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]. He is also known from his appearances on the British version of ''[[The Apprentice (UK TV series)|The Apprentice]]'', interviewing for his former boss [[Alan Sugar]]. Claude Littner became one of Sugar's aides from the 2015 series onwards.
'''Claude Littner''' (born 4 May 1949)<ref name="RT" /> is an American-born <!-- doesn't have American citizenship anymore -->British business executive and the former [[chairman]] of [[Viglen]], [[Powerleague]], [[ASCO Numatics|ASCO]] and Azzuri Communications. He is also the deputy chairman of [[Blacks Leisure Group|Blacks Leisure]] and former chief executive of [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]. He is also known from his appearances on the British version of ''[[The Apprentice (UK TV series)|The Apprentice]]'', interviewing for his former boss [[Alan Sugar]]. Littner was one of Sugar's aides between 2015 and 2019.


==Early life==
== Early life ==
Littner was born in [[New York City]] to an American mother and an [[Austrian-Jewish]] father, who had fled the [[Nazi Germany|Nazis]] in the 1930s.<ref name="RT">{{cite web|title=Claude Littner on how he became the new Apprentice Rottweiler – and his own terrible job interview with Alan Sugar|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-10-14/claude-littner-on-how-he-became-the-new-apprentice-rottweiler---and-his-own-terrible-job-interview-with-lord-sugar|work=[[Radio Times]]|date=14 October 2015}}</ref> His father worked as a [[chemical engineer]]. The family immigrated to the [[United Kingdom]] soon after Littner's birth. Littner holds [[British nationality law|British citizenship]], and is fluent in French. He is a practising [[Judaism|Jew]].<ref name="RT"/>
Littner was born in [[New York City]], to an American mother and an [[Austrian-Jewish]] father, who had fled the [[Nazi Germany|Nazis]] in the 1930s.<ref name="RT">{{cite web|title=Claude Littner on how he became the new Apprentice Rottweiler – and his own terrible job interview with Alan Sugar|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-10-14/claude-littner-on-how-he-became-the-new-apprentice-rottweiler---and-his-own-terrible-job-interview-with-lord-sugar|work=[[Radio Times]]|date=14 October 2015}}</ref> His father worked as a [[chemical engineer]]. The family migrated to the United Kingdom soon after Littner's birth. Littner holds British citizenship, and is fluent in French. He is a practising Jew.<ref name="RT" />


==Career==
== Career ==
After working in accountancy, Littner developed a career as a [[Turnaround management|turnaround]] specialist. It was in this role that he met Alan Sugar, and agreed to chair a number of Sugar's companies. In the early 1990s, Littner was chairman and chief executive of Amstrad International, Amstrad Spain and Dancall Telecom.
After working in accountancy, Littner developed a career as a [[Turnaround management|turnaround]] specialist. It was in this role that he met Alan Sugar, and agreed to chair a number of Sugar's companies. In the early 1990s, Littner was chairman and chief executive of [[Amstrad|Amstrad International]], Amstrad Spain and Dancall Telecom.


Claude Littner served as: non-executive chairman of Azzurri Communications; deputy chairman of [[Blacks Leisure Group]] from August 2008 to July 2009; executive chairman of the international oilfield support services business [[Asco (oilfield support)|ASCO]] from 2004 to 2007; [[non-executive director]] of Norton Way Motors Ltd and Myeloma UK.{{cn|date=November 2017}}
Claude Littner served as: non-executive chairman of Azzurri Communications; deputy chairman of [[Blacks Leisure Group]] from August 2008 to July 2009; executive chairman of the international oilfield support services business [[Asco (oilfield support)|ASCO]] from 2004 to 2007; [[non-executive director]] of Norton Way Motors Ltd and Myeloma UK.{{cn|date=November 2017}}
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A non-executive director of Amstrad since June 2007, in 2009 Sugar resigned a majority of his UK company directorships, handing over his former management duties to Littner, including the chairman's post at Viglen.
A non-executive director of Amstrad since June 2007, in 2009 Sugar resigned a majority of his UK company directorships, handing over his former management duties to Littner, including the chairman's post at Viglen.


===Football===
=== Football ===
When Sugar was majority owner and chairman of [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]], Littner was its Chief Executive from 1993 to 1998. He once almost turned down a request from [[Anne, Princess Royal|The Princess Royal]] for tickets to a game.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2935289/Market-profile.html |title=Claude Littner |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=27 March 2006 |accessdate=9 April 2011 }}</ref> He resigned his directorship in 2001. Littner bought into Powerleague, a [[five-a-side football]] centre operator in 2001. After leading a [[management buyout]] from [[3i]] Group in 2003, it floated on [[Alternative Investment Market|AIM]] in 2006. The company was taken over in 2009 by [[Patron Capital]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/city-news/2009/10/03/apprentice-interviewer-claude-littner-to-land-millions-with-powerleague-sell-off-115875-21718562/ |title=''Apprentice'' interviewer Claude Littner to land millions with Powerleague sell-off |author=Graham Hiscott |date=2 October 2009 |work=[[Daily Mirror]] }}</ref> and he netted some £50m.
When Sugar was majority owner and chairman of [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]], Littner was its chief executive from 1993 to 1998. He once almost turned down a request from [[Anne, Princess Royal|The Princess Royal]] for tickets to a game.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2935289/Market-profile.html |title=Claude Littner |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=27 March 2006 |accessdate=9 April 2011 }}</ref> He resigned his directorship in 2001. Littner bought into Powerleague, a [[five-a-side football]] centre operator in 2001. After leading a [[management buyout]] from [[3i]] Group in 2003, it floated on [[Alternative Investment Market|AIM]] in 2006. The company was taken over in 2009 by [[Patron Capital]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/city-news/2009/10/03/apprentice-interviewer-claude-littner-to-land-millions-with-powerleague-sell-off-115875-21718562/ |title=''Apprentice'' interviewer Claude Littner to land millions with Powerleague sell-off |author=Graham Hiscott |date=2 October 2009 |work=[[Daily Mirror]] }}</ref> and he netted some £50m.


===''The Apprentice''===
=== ''The Apprentice'' ===
He came to wider UK public recognition through his direct and confrontational style of [[job interview]]ing on ''The Apprentice''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3554134/The-Apprentice-Lee-McQueen-and-Bordan-Tkachuk-interview-transcript.html |title=''The Apprentice'': Lee McQueen and Bordan Tkachuk interview transcript |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |accessdate=8 April 2011 |first=Caroline |last=Gammell |date=11 June 2008 }}</ref> He is the only interviewer to have appeared in this role in every series of the programme.
Littner came to wider UK public recognition through his direct and confrontational style of [[job interview]]ing on ''The Apprentice''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3554134/The-Apprentice-Lee-McQueen-and-Bordan-Tkachuk-interview-transcript.html |title=''The Apprentice'': Lee McQueen and Bordan Tkachuk interview transcript |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |accessdate=8 April 2011 |first=Caroline |last=Gammell |date=11 June 2008 }}</ref> He is the only interviewer to have appeared in this role in every series of the programme.


On 27 April 2015, it was announced that Littner had replaced [[Nick Hewer]] as Alan Sugar's aide on the show. He started when the 2015 series began on 14 October 2015, and he continues to interview the candidates.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32488789 |title=Claude Littner replaces Nick Hewer on ''The Apprentice'' |publisher=BBC News |date=27 April 2015 }}</ref> He took a hiatus from the programme for its sixteenth series due to injuries sustained from a cycling accident in 2021, with [[The Apprentice (British series 1)|series one]] winner [[Tim Campbell (businessman)|Tim Campbell]] taking over.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-08|title=Apprentice star Claude Littner to miss next series|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-57761478|access-date=2021-07-08|website=BBC News|language=en-GB}}</ref>
On 27 April 2015, it was announced that Littner had replaced [[Nick Hewer]] as Alan Sugar's aide on the show. He started when the 2015 series began on 14 October 2015, and he continues to interview the candidates.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32488789 |title=Claude Littner replaces Nick Hewer on ''The Apprentice'' |publisher=BBC News |date=27 April 2015 }}</ref>


He took a hiatus from the programme for its sixteenth series due to injuries sustained from a cycling accident in 2021, with [[The Apprentice (British series 1)|series one]] winner [[Tim Campbell (businessman)|Tim Campbell]] taking over for the sixteenth series.<ref>{{Cite web|date=8 July 2021|title=Apprentice star Claude Littner to miss next series|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-57761478|access-date=8 July 2021|website=BBC News|language=en-GB}}</ref> Littner returned to the show for the first episode of the seventeenth series, but was not well enough to continue. His place was taken by Tim Campbell for the following 10 episodes.
==Honours==
In October 2014, the [[University of West London]]'s Business School was renamed the Claude Littner Business School in appreciation of his contributions to the university. It was opened and unveiled by long-time associate and colleague, Alan Sugar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uwl.ac.uk/news-events/news/lord-sugar-launches-claude-littner-business-school |title=Lord Sugar launches the Claude Littner Business School &#124; University of West London |publisher=Uwl.ac.uk |date=8 October 2014 |accessdate=18 November 2015}}</ref> In April 2015 the University of West London appointed him a visiting Professor.


==Personal life==
== Honours ==
Since 1976 Littner has been married to Thelma. They have two sons Anthony and Alex and five grandchildren.<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/the-apprentice/10168907/The-Apprentices-Claude-Littner-says-Call-that-a-business-plan-A-10-year-old-could-do-better.html |title=The Apprentice's Claude Littner says: Call that a business plan? A 10-year-old could do better |publisher=Telegraph |date= |accessdate=18 November 2015}}</ref>
In October 2014, the [[University of West London]]'s Business School was renamed the Claude Littner Business School in appreciation of his contributions to the university. It was opened and unveiled by long-time associate and colleague, Alan Sugar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uwl.ac.uk/news-events/news/lord-sugar-launches-claude-littner-business-school |title=Lord Sugar launches the Claude Littner Business School &#124; University of West London |publisher=Uwl.ac.uk |date=8 October 2014 |accessdate=18 November 2015}}</ref> In April 2015 the University of West London appointed him a visiting professor.


== Personal life ==
⚫
In 1997, at the age of 48, Littner was diagnosed with [[Non-Hodgkin lymphoma]] and was given six months to live.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-10-14/claude-littner-on-how-he-became-the-new-apprentice-rottweiler---and-his-own-terrible-job-interview-with-lord-sugar |title= Claude Litter on how he became the new Apprentice rottweiler...and his own terrible job interview with Lord Sugar |publisher= Radio Times |date= |accessdate=1 January 2017}}</ref>
Since 1976 Littner has been married to Thelma. They have two sons, Anthony and Alex, and five grandchildren.<ref name="Telegraph"/>

⚫
In 1997, at the age of 48, Littner was diagnosed with [[Non-Hodgkin lymphoma]] and was initially given six months to live.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-10-14/claude-littner-on-how-he-became-the-new-apprentice-rottweiler---and-his-own-terrible-job-interview-with-lord-sugar |title= Claude Litter on how he became the new Apprentice rottweiler...and his own terrible job interview with Lord Sugar |publisher= Radio Times |date= |accessdate=1 January 2017}}</ref>


Littner [[Relinquishment of United States nationality|renounced American citizenship]] in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|date=19 November 2018|title=Quarterly Publication of Individuals, Who Have Chosen To Expatriate, as Required by Section 6039G|url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/11/19/2018-25155/quarterly-publication-of-individuals-who-have-chosen-to-expatriate-as-required-by-section-6039g|access-date=23 July 2020|website=Federal Register}}</ref>
Littner [[Relinquishment of United States nationality|renounced American citizenship]] in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|date=19 November 2018|title=Quarterly Publication of Individuals, Who Have Chosen To Expatriate, as Required by Section 6039G|url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/11/19/2018-25155/quarterly-publication-of-individuals-who-have-chosen-to-expatriate-as-required-by-section-6039g|access-date=23 July 2020|website=Federal Register}}</ref>
Line 52: Line 54:
Littner endorsed the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] during the [[2019 United Kingdom general election]].<ref>{{cite tweet|last=Littner|first=Claude|title=We can all rest easy now. All that is required is to vote Conservative! https://twitter.com/CharlotteCGill/status/1193538056663506944|number=1193561469813710848|user=claudelittner|date=10 November 2019|language=en|accessdate=10 November 2019}}</ref>
Littner endorsed the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] during the [[2019 United Kingdom general election]].<ref>{{cite tweet|last=Littner|first=Claude|title=We can all rest easy now. All that is required is to vote Conservative! https://twitter.com/CharlotteCGill/status/1193538056663506944|number=1193561469813710848|user=claudelittner|date=10 November 2019|language=en|accessdate=10 November 2019}}</ref>


==References==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
== External links ==
* [http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=8624740&privcapId=1675724&previousCapId=9898546&previousTitle=Standard%20Life%20Investments%20Property%20Income%20Trust%20Ltd. Bio at Business Week]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121011192522/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=8624740&privcapId=1675724&previousCapId=9898546&previousTitle=Standard%20Life%20Investments%20Property%20Income%20Trust%20Ltd. Bio at Business Week]
* {{IMDb name|3071676}}
* {{IMDb name|3071676}}
*[http://www.biogs.com/famous/littner.html Claude Littner at Biogs.com]
*[http://www.biogs.com/famous/littner.html Claude Littner at Biogs.com]
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[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:British businesspeople]]
[[Category:Tottenham Hotspur F.C. directors and chairmen]]
[[Category:Tottenham Hotspur F.C. directors and chairmen]]
[[Category:The Apprentice (British TV series)]]
[[Category:The Apprentice (British TV series)]]

Latest revision as of 21:26, 18 April 2024

Claude Manuel Littner
Born (1949-05-04) 4 May 1949 (age 75)
New York City, U.S.
CitizenshipBritish (1990–present)
American (1949–2018)
OccupationBusinessman
Known forThe Apprentice
Spouse
Thelma Littner
​
(m. 1976)​
ChildrenAnthony Littner
Alex Littner[1]

Claude Littner (born 4 May 1949)[2] is an American-born British business executive and the former chairman of Viglen, Powerleague, ASCO and Azzuri Communications. He is also the deputy chairman of Blacks Leisure and former chief executive of Tottenham Hotspur. He is also known from his appearances on the British version of The Apprentice, interviewing for his former boss Alan Sugar. Littner was one of Sugar's aides between 2015 and 2019.

Early life

[edit]

Littner was born in New York City, to an American mother and an Austrian-Jewish father, who had fled the Nazis in the 1930s.[2] His father worked as a chemical engineer. The family migrated to the United Kingdom soon after Littner's birth. Littner holds British citizenship, and is fluent in French. He is a practising Jew.[2]

Career

[edit]

After working in accountancy, Littner developed a career as a turnaround specialist. It was in this role that he met Alan Sugar, and agreed to chair a number of Sugar's companies. In the early 1990s, Littner was chairman and chief executive of Amstrad International, Amstrad Spain and Dancall Telecom.

Claude Littner served as: non-executive chairman of Azzurri Communications; deputy chairman of Blacks Leisure Group from August 2008 to July 2009; executive chairman of the international oilfield support services business ASCO from 2004 to 2007; non-executive director of Norton Way Motors Ltd and Myeloma UK.[citation needed]

A non-executive director of Amstrad since June 2007, in 2009 Sugar resigned a majority of his UK company directorships, handing over his former management duties to Littner, including the chairman's post at Viglen.

Football

[edit]

When Sugar was majority owner and chairman of Tottenham Hotspur, Littner was its chief executive from 1993 to 1998. He once almost turned down a request from The Princess Royal for tickets to a game.[3] He resigned his directorship in 2001. Littner bought into Powerleague, a five-a-side football centre operator in 2001. After leading a management buyout from 3i Group in 2003, it floated on AIM in 2006. The company was taken over in 2009 by Patron Capital[4] and he netted some £50m.

The Apprentice

[edit]

Littner came to wider UK public recognition through his direct and confrontational style of job interviewing on The Apprentice.[5] He is the only interviewer to have appeared in this role in every series of the programme.

On 27 April 2015, it was announced that Littner had replaced Nick Hewer as Alan Sugar's aide on the show. He started when the 2015 series began on 14 October 2015, and he continues to interview the candidates.[6]

He took a hiatus from the programme for its sixteenth series due to injuries sustained from a cycling accident in 2021, with series one winner Tim Campbell taking over for the sixteenth series.[7] Littner returned to the show for the first episode of the seventeenth series, but was not well enough to continue. His place was taken by Tim Campbell for the following 10 episodes.

Honours

[edit]

In October 2014, the University of West London's Business School was renamed the Claude Littner Business School in appreciation of his contributions to the university. It was opened and unveiled by long-time associate and colleague, Alan Sugar.[8] In April 2015 the University of West London appointed him a visiting professor.

Personal life

[edit]

Since 1976 Littner has been married to Thelma. They have two sons, Anthony and Alex, and five grandchildren.[1]

In 1997, at the age of 48, Littner was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and was initially given six months to live.[9]

Littner renounced American citizenship in 2018.[10]

Littner endorsed the Conservative Party during the 2019 United Kingdom general election.[11]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "The Apprentice's Claude Littner says: Call that a business plan? A 10-year-old could do better". Telegraph. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "Claude Littner on how he became the new Apprentice Rottweiler – and his own terrible job interview with Alan Sugar". Radio Times. 14 October 2015.
  3. ^ "Claude Littner". The Daily Telegraph. 27 March 2006. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
  4. ^ Graham Hiscott (2 October 2009). "Apprentice interviewer Claude Littner to land millions with Powerleague sell-off". Daily Mirror.
  5. ^ Gammell, Caroline (11 June 2008). "The Apprentice: Lee McQueen and Bordan Tkachuk interview transcript". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  6. ^ "Claude Littner replaces Nick Hewer on The Apprentice". BBC News. 27 April 2015.
  7. ^ "Apprentice star Claude Littner to miss next series". BBC News. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Lord Sugar launches the Claude Littner Business School | University of West London". Uwl.ac.uk. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  9. ^ "Claude Litter on how he became the new Apprentice rottweiler...and his own terrible job interview with Lord Sugar". Radio Times. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  10. ^ "Quarterly Publication of Individuals, Who Have Chosen To Expatriate, as Required by Section 6039G". Federal Register. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  11. ^ Littner, Claude [@claudelittner] (10 November 2019). "We can all rest easy now. All that is required is to vote Conservative! https://twitter.com/CharlotteCGill/status/1193538056663506944" (Tweet). Retrieved 10 November 2019 – via Twitter.
[edit]
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