Dominic Chappell

Dominic Joseph Andrew Chappell (born 28 November 1966) is a British businessman and former racing driver.

Early life

Chappell was born in Sunbury on Thames in 1966. He was educated at Millfield School in Somerset.

Motor racing

Chappell competed from 1986 to 1999 including British FF 2000, British F3 in 1990 finishing runner up in the Class B Championship. Chappell competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in the GT1 class in 1995 1996 and 1997.

Chappell launched the Interactive Sportscar Championship in the UK in 2001. The Series folded after one race.

Business career

File:Island Harbour Marina.jpg

Island Harbour Marina

Chappell has been a director of various companies and has been made bankrupt three times and entered into an individual voluntary arrangement once. He was involved in the Island Harbour Marina development on the Isle of Wight. It was revealed in 2015 that Chappell, with the backing of investors, is the 90% owner of Retail Acquisitions, the firm that acquired British Home Stores (BHS) from Sir Philip Green for £1.

On 26 April 2016, it was reported that when it became likely that BHS would be going into receivership Chappell had moved £1.5 million from the firm to a company owned by a friend who was also a fellow board member of Retail Acquisitions. The sum had been later refunded, less £50,000 bank transaction fees, at the request of BHS' chief executive Darren Topp.

Just days after putting BHS into liquidation, and with its £571m pension deficit absorbed by the UK government's Pension Protection Fund, Chappell was said to be considering re-purchasing some parts of the firm. Reporting on this development, the BBC's Business editor Simon Jack noted: "Sources at BHS treated the announcement with bewilderment. Other very senior retail sources used more colourful language. His credibility has taken a very serious knock. The details that have emerged about Dominic Chappell and his fellow directors' extraction of millions in professional fees has attracted widespread criticism".