 He joined the family business, John Poole & Son Ltd, insurance brokers, in the City, in 1939, and became a member of Lloyds.In 1950, he joined S. Pearson & Sons Ltd on the invitation of his friend Weetman Pearson, 3rd Viscount Cowdray, and became its chief executive.He oversaw the expansion of the company through the acquisition of the "Financial Times", Penguin Books, Longman, Château Latour, and Royal Doulton.