Born in 1950, Lord Hesketh was educated at Ampleforth College and then worked for Dean Witter Inc in San Francisco, before returning to manage his family’s businesses.
In 1986 he assumed the duties of Government Whip. In 1989 he became Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of the Environment and in 1990 was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry. He was promoted to Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords and also made Privy Councillor in 1991.
During his period in office as Chief Whip he helped secure the Council Tax Bill (1992) and the Maastricht Bill (1993).
Lord Hesketh is the Non-Executive Deputy Chairman of Babcock International plc and has been a Non-Executive Director of British Aerospace/BAE Systems. In 1994 he was appointed Chairman of British Mediterranean Airways. Lord Hesketh was Treasurer of the Conservative Party 2004/2005.