David Smorgon

David joined the family business at the age of 23. David advanced to be a senior executive at Smorgon Consolidated Industries, which is the large family business that spanned meat, paper, glass, plastics and steel industries. David then spent 25 years as an executive and director with Smorgon Consolidated Industries.{{cite web|url=https://www.platinumspeakers.com.au/Speakers/David-Smorgon-OAM.aspx|title=David Smorgon OAM|access-date=11 February 2022}}

After the sale of Smorgon Consolidated Industries in 1996, David, along with his three children; Dean (b. 1969–70), Ricky (b. 1971–72), and Dale (b. 1974–75), also built up their self-run stockholding organisation, Generation Investment Management focusing on business opportunities, equity and property investments. This corporation is known for providing loan-to-own transactions to assist global corporations with debt, with such clients as Bonds, and coin-operated entertainment business Ride On! Entertainment; the latter in which Ricky and Dale are executive directors.{{cite web|url=https://www.hamiltonwealth.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/2053_David%20Smorgon%20BIO.pdf|title=David Smorgon OAM|access-date=11 February 2022}}

David was also named the inaugural chairman of Family Business Australia in 1997, a position he held for six years.{{cite web|url=https://www.platinumspeakers.com.au/Speakers/David-Smorgon-OAM.aspx|title=David Smorgon OAM|access-date=11 February 2022}}

In 2013, David accepted the role of Patron for SportsConnect, an organisation connecting business and sport.{{cite web|url=https://www.platinumspeakers.com.au/Speakers/David-Smorgon-OAM.aspx|title=David Smorgon OAM|access-date=11 February 2022}}

In June 2014, David became Executive Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers of the Australian branch.{{cite web|url=https://www.hamiltonwealth.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/2053_David%20Smorgon%20BIO.pdf|title=David Smorgon OAM|access-date=11 February 2022}}

In January 2019, David founded his own company Pointmade and also became the CEO of the company, where he has continued his Family Advisory work under.{{cite web|url=https://www.hamiltonwealth.com.au/2019/08/forthcoming-event-david-smorgon-oam-october-2019-dinner/|title=David Smorgon OAM, October 2019, Dinner|access-date=11 February 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pointmade.com.au/|title= The Business of Family.|access-date=11 February 2022}}

He is most noted for holding the presidency of the Western Bulldogs, an Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He has been a passionate supporter of the club since his youth and held the position of president from 1996 to 2012.

{{cite web|url=https://www.platinumspeakers.com.au/Speakers/David-Smorgon-OAM.aspx|title=David Smorgon OAM|access-date=11 February 2022}} In David's tenure as president of the club, he directed the Bulldogs through constant battles of survival in the cut-throat world of AFL, where business perspective and professionalism are paramount. David also orchestrated a stunning turnaround of the club's financial fortunes in the off-field area and the club's on-field performance also improved dramatically in his tenure.{{cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/news/smorgon-is-the-top-dog-on-and-off-the-field/news-story/0ee93491e1ced8a1a0766029ef51ff9d|title=Smorgon is the top dog on and off the field|date=2 July 2011|access-date=11 February 2022}} David stepped down as President in December 2012, ending a 16 year reign.{{cite web|url=https://www.platinumspeakers.com.au/Speakers/David-Smorgon-OAM.aspx|title=David Smorgon OAM|access-date=11 February 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.australianjewishnews.com/smorgon-steps-down/|title=Smorgon steps down from Dogs|date=18 October 2012|access-date=11 February 2022}}

For his contributions to the community through health, social welfare and education, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2000.{{cite web |title=David Smorgon OAM – Celebrity Speakers – Australia's Premier Speakers' Bureau |url=https://www.celebrityspeakers.com.au/david-smorgon/ |website=celebrityspeakers.com.au |accessdate=6 July 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.platinumspeakers.com.au/Speakers/David-Smorgon-OAM.aspx|title=David Smorgon OAM|access-date=11 February 2022}}

Smorgon's wife Roslyn died from cancer on Sunday 27 January 2008 aged 58.{{Cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/death-of-a-philanthropist/2008/01/27/1201368945700.html|title = Death of a philanthropist|date = 28 January 2008}} As a member of the Smorgon family, his cousin is Graham Smorgon, former Smorgon Steel chairman and former president of the Carlton Football Club.{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/smorgon-takes-over-blues-presidency-20060419-gdndy0.html|title=Smorgon takes over Blues' presidency|date=19 April 2006|access-date=29 January 2022}}

David was educated at Brighton Grammar.{{cite web|url=https://www.brightongrammar.vic.edu.au/member/david-smorgon-oam/|title=David Smorgon OAM|access-date=11 February 2022}}

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Category:Western Bulldogs administrators

Category:1947 births

Category:Living people

Category:People educated at Brighton Grammar School

Category:20th-century Australian businesspeople

Category:Businesspeople from Melbourne

Category:Australian people of Ukrainian-Jewish descent

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