Lord Douro is Chairman of Richemont Holdings UK and of King's College London. He was a member of the European Parliament from 1979-1989. He was chairman of Sun Life and Provincial Holdings plc from 1995-2000 and of Framlington Group from 1993-2005. He was a Commissioner of English Heritage from 2003-2007. He and his family have, for many years, had a keen interest in shooting and conservation, owning estates in Hampshire, Scotland and Spain.