Biography

Humble was born in Manchester, and became a bank clerk on leaving school before joining the Signals Regiment of the British Army.

When a neighbour suggested that he should enrol at university, he initially rejected the idea as no-one from their street had ever done such a thing. But he changed his mind, and by 1951 he had left Cambridge with a BA in history.

He joined Courtaulds, the fabrics manufacturer, before moving to the Industrial Society as small businesses adviser. He was the Ford Foundation Young Businessman of the Year in 1960, an award which funded a three-month study in the USA.

His interest in Management by Objectives (MbO) resulted in him meeting with Drucker in what was to prove a turning point in Humble's life. They became life-long friends, and Humble wrote books on MbO and worked with Drucker on a series of films.

As a management consultant, Humble's work spanned the world. 

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