Robert Palmer, Lord Rusholme
(1929 - 1947)
Born in Manchester. At 21 became a director of Manchester and Salford Co‑operative Societies. Became Chief Executive in 1929. Appointed to House of Lords as the first Cooperative peer in 1945 and took the title Lord Rusholme. His motto was: "The World Is My Province".
Soon after being made a peer, he was assigned to the newly formed Transport Commission and was unable to carry out his duties as Chief Executive: Robert Southern carried out his duties, before being officially appointed to the vacancy in 1950.