He served in the Grenadier Guards in the Second World War and was severely injured and captured at Anzio, having to have a leg amputated while a prisoner-of-war, which resulted in his repatriation.
[1][2] After returning to civilian life, Hussey joined Associated Newspapers, where he had a long career, culminating in being appointed managing director.
He subsequently joined Times Newspapers as chief executive and managing director, a post he held from 1971 to 1980.
[3] In 1986 he was appointed as Chairman of the BBC, upon the death of Stuart Young, thanks in part to his close connections to the ruling Conservatives.
[7] Hussey gave up several boardroom appointments when he joined the BBC, but he remained chairman of the board of the Royal Marsden Hospital until 1998.