Alec Reed

Life & Legacy

Sir Alec Edward Reed (16 February 1934 – 2 December 2025) was a British business executive and philanthropist who founded the Reed Group Ltd, one of the UK's largest private businesses. Knighted for services to business and charity in 2011, Reed was a high-profile charity donor and organiser. Initiatives he founded have collectively raised over £427 million, often in support of women, addiction recovery, overseas development, education and the arts.
Reed founded seven charities, several companies, two schools and was the author of four business books. His final job title at Reed was Founder at Large. In 2023, The Times newspaper described him as "...the man who revolutionised philanthropy".
On receiving his knighthood, he remarked, “Without business there would be no charity - but without charity, what’s the point of business?”