Winners - 2006

For the outstanding man who has made the greatest individual contribution to life in the county. Sponsored by Black Sheep Brewery

David Jones - Yorkshire Man of the Year 2006

Yorkshire Awards Man of the Year has been described by Hollywood actor Michael Fox as a true inspiration.   He’s David Jones, the former chairman of Next,  who’s risen to the very top of the retail ladder – despite living with Parkinson’s disease for the past 24 years.  David, originally from Worcestershire, has made Yorkshire his adoptive home for more than 30 years.  He began his career in retailing at the age of 17 when he applied for a temp job with Kays mail order firm, before moving onto Great Universal Stores, Grattans, and eventually becoming chief executive of Next in 1988.  Under his leadership Next became the Retail success story of the 1990s.  And all this all the more remarkable because David kept the fact he had Parkinsons disease a secret from the business world for 20 years.