James Francis Zockoll (14 February 1930 – 25 January 2024) was an American-born pilot and businessman who pioneered franchising in the United Kingdom, founding the Dyno-Rod drain repair business in 1963.
[1] He graduated from Scott High School in 1949 and immediately joined the US Air Force, where he served as an aircraft mechanic crew chief in the Korean War.
[2] Following service, Zockoll returned to the US and attended the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics to expand his mechanical skills and obtain his Aircraft and Engine license.
Feeling his job was insecure, Zockoll began a couple of sidelines: he invested in rental properties on Long Island and started a small drain-cleaning business.
[5] Zockoll spotted a business opportunity, moved his family to London and, with support from his father-in-law and the hotel's plumber, founded Surbiton-based Dyno-Rod.
By July 2004, Dyno-Rod had around 167 franchises, including emergency plumbing, locksmith services (Dyno-Lock), pest control (Dyno-Kil) and burglary repairs (Dyno-Secure), and a turnover of £60m.