Ross Stainton

Sir John Ross Stainton CBE was a British businessman and airline chief executive.

Life

The son of George Stainton and his wife Helen Ross, he attended Glengorse School and Malvern College. He joined Imperial Airways in 1933. From 1940 to 1946, he served in the Royal Air Force from 1940. He joined BOAC in 1949, and worked in its head office from 1954 to 1968, when he came onto its Board. He was its managing director in 1971–2.
Stainton was chief executive of BOAC from 1972 until 1974 when it was merged with BEA into British Airways. He was chief executive of British Airways from 1977 to 1979. He was chairman of its board, 1979–80.

Stainton married in 1939 Doreen Werner ; the couple had three daughters. his wife died in 2001. He had three daughters. He was awarded the CBE in the 1971 Birthday Honours. He was knighted in the 1981 New Year Honours. He lived in Camberley, off the B311.