 He was educated at Sullivan Upper School, Belfast, followed by an HND in business studies from Northern Ireland Polytechnic.Northridge worked for Gallaher Group for 32 years, rising to chief executive, from 2000 to 2007.Northridge was the chairman of the British multinational department store chain, Debenhams from April 2010 to April 2016, when he was succeeded by Sir Ian Cheshire.