Ineos

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, born in 1952 in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, is the founder, chairman and driving force behind Ineos, a global leader in chemicals, energy and manufacturing. Trained as a chemical engineer at the University of Birmingham and later earning an MBA from London Business School, Ratcliffe began his career at Esso and Courtaulds before moving into finance with Advent International.

In 1998, he founded Ineos by purchasing BP’s chemical division in Antwerp, laying the foundations for what would become a £60bn+ enterprise. Ratcliffe’s vision was to create a lean, entrepreneurially driven company focused on efficiency, growth through acquisition and operational excellence. Over the following decades, Ineos expanded rapidly, acquiring assets from major corporations including BASF, BP and ICI. Its portfolio now spans petrochemicals, polymers, automotive and energy, making it one of the world’s largest privately owned industrial groups.

Beyond business, Ratcliffe has diversified Ineos into sports and adventure, acquiring stakes in football clubs such as OGC Nice and Manchester United, the cycling team Ineos Grenadiers and the sailing team Ineos Britannia. His leadership style—combining rigorous financial discipline with bold risk-taking—has defined Ineos's culture and global success.

Knighted in 2018 for his services to business and investment, Ratcliffe exemplifies British industrial ambition and resilience, transforming Ineos from a small start-up into a multinational powerhouse with a pioneering approach to both industry and innovation.