James Hull is a British dentist and entrepreneur, who owned UK's largest and one of the world's biggest private car collections.[1]

James Hull Associates edit

Hull opened his first dental practice in 1987 in Gwent, Wales. James Hull Associates presently has over 50 dental practices in the UK, which mainly specialise in cosmetic dentistry.[2] After private equity firm Hutton Collins bought a 40% stake in the business in 2006, valuing it at about £90m, Hull and two fellow directors stepped down from the business's board in 2008 after the group made a loss of £8.7M.[3] Irish businessman Emmet O Neill's Smiles dentistry group bought JHA in late 2012.[4]

Personal life edit

Hull, who lives in Knightsbridge, west London, has battled cancer three times.[citation needed] He enjoys playing cricket and tennis.[2]

In May 2014, Hull emerged as the owner of one of the world's biggest private car collections, by putting the entire collection up for sale for £100M. The collection of 543 classic cars, ranging from multi-million pound Jaguars including a XKSS through to a Morris Minor, also includes: Lord Mountbatten's Mini Traveller; Winston Churchill's Austin; Mike Hailwood's 1961 Jaguar E-Type; and a Bentley formerly owned by Elton John.[1][5] In July 2014 his collection was sold to Jaguar Land Rover for an undisclosed sum.[6] Sixteen of the cars were put on show at Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, Warwickshire from November 2014.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Henry Foy, Motor Industry Correspondent (14 May 2014). "Huge classic car collection up for sale". Financial Times. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  2. ^ a b Emilie Saner (8 August 2009). "Look who's smiling". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  3. ^ Aled Blake (17 November 2009). "James Hull steps down as dental company's chief executive". Wales Online. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  4. ^ "Moving forward". The Dentist. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  5. ^ "Dentist James Hull puts 450 car collection up for sale at £100M". Western Daily Press. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  6. ^ 7. Steve Cropley (25 July 2014) "Jaguar acquires James Hull collection of 543 British cars", Autocar. Retrieved 7 December 2014
  7. ^ "British Motor Museum | Home".