Unipart Group chief executive John Neill has received an honorary doctorate from Middlesex University in recognition of his contribution to academia and business.

Neill led the buyout of Unipart from British Leyland in 1987 and is credited with creating “a beacon for British industry” for its management thinking and radical approach to the accelerated development of staff through Unipart's corporate university, the Unipart U.

He also holds honorary doctorates is business administration from Oxford Brookes University and De Montfort University. The former Bank of England director is vice-president of the City & Guilds of London Institute and a council member of the SMMT and IOD.