Donald Gordon (South African businessman)
{{short description|South African businessman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{primary sources|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = Sir
| name = Donald Gordon
| image =
| alt =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1930|06|24|df=y}}
| birth_place = Johannesburg, Union of South Africa
| alma_mater = University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|11|21|1930|06|24|df=y}}
| nationality = South African and British
| occupation = Businessman, philanthropist
| children = 3, including Wendy Appelbaum
}}
Sir Donald Gordon (24 June 1930 – 21 November 2019{{Cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Companies/liberty-life-founder-sir-donald-gordon-has-died-20191122|title=Liberty Life founder, Sir Donald Gordon, has died|date=2019-11-22|website=Fin24|access-date=2019-11-22}}) was a South African-British businessman and philanthropist.[https://archive.today/20130121110820/http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/g/18433/Donald+GORDON.aspx Sir Donald Gordon's Biography], Debrett's. Retrieved 25 July 2012. He founded Liberty Life Association of Africa in 1957 and Liberty International.
Career
Educated at King Edward VII School in Johannesburg, and then enrolled at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg where he obtained a BCom degree in Accounting. Thereafter, he completed [http://www.financial-inspiration.com/donald-gordon.html Donald Gordon: Liberty for All] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007150105/http://www.financial-inspiration.com/donald-gordon.html |date=October 7, 2011 }}, Financial Inspiration website. his articles to be a Chartered Accountant at the firm Kessel Feinstein (now Grant Thornton).
He founded the Liberty Life Association of Africa in 1957[http://www.donaldgordon.org/cv/MrDonaldGordon.htm Donald Gordon: CV] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003094507/http://www.donaldgordon.org/cv/MrDonaldGordon.htm |date=2011-10-03 }} out of which he formed Transatlantic Insurance Holdings, now Liberty International, in 1980.
He was behind the development of Sandton City, one of the most successful shopping centres in the world.{{Cite web|url=http://www.property24.com/articles/the-city-that-donnie-built/17048|title=The City That Donnie Built - Property24.com|website=www.property24.com|language=en|access-date=2018-06-21}}
Gordon was a director of the Guardian Royal Exchange Group for 24 years and chaired their South African subsidiary, Guardian National Insurance Company.
Other interests
The Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) in Johannesburg, South Africa was established in January 2000 following a substantial contribution by Donald Gordon and a major investment by the University of Pretoria.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gibs.co.za/|title=GIBS Business School - Home of MBA, PDBA, & Executive Education Programmes|website=www.gibs.co.za|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-06-27}}{{cite web |url=http://www.donaldgordon.org/projects/gibs.htm |title=The Gordon Institute of Business Science |accessdate=2010-05-28 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909090943/http://www.donaldgordon.org/projects/gibs.htm |archivedate=2009-09-09 }} The Gordon Institute of Business Science
In 2004, Gordon gave the Royal Opera House and Wales Millennium Centre a collective donation of £20 million payable over five years.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3274701.stm £20m boost for arts centres] BBC News, 16 November 2003 This is believed to be one of the largest single private donations ever made to the arts in the UK. Sir Donald has had the Grand Tier at the Royal Opera House[http://www.ballet.co.uk/dcforum/news/2232.html#1 Statement by Tony Hall, Chief Executive] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515003649/http://www.ballet.co.uk/dcforum/news/2232.html#1 |date=May 15, 2009 }} Royal Opera House, 6 April 2004 as well as the main auditorium of the Wales Millennium Centre named after him.[http://www.wmc.org.uk/index.cfm?UUID=F5E1809E-F2E8-585C-4E36D00A2066D66A The Donald Gordon Theatre] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202024852/http://www.wmc.org.uk/index.cfm?UUID=F5E1809E-F2E8-585C-4E36D00A2066D66A |date=December 2, 2010 }}
Awards and recognition
At the 2000 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in London, Gordon received the "Entrepreneur of the Year Special Award for Lifetime Achievement". He received an honorary doctorate of economic science from the University of the Witwatersrand and an honorary doctorate in commerce from the University of Pretoria. In 1968, he was named "Businessman of the Year" by the South African Sunday Times. In 1999, he was named as "The Achiever of the Century in South African Financial Services" by South African Financial Mail.
In 2005 Birthday Honours List, he was awarded a knighthood in recognition of his services to arts and business.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.donaldgordon.org/}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gordon, Donald}}
Category:Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom
Category:South African businesspeople
Category:South African Knights Bachelor
Category:South African philanthropists
Category:Alumni of King Edward VII School (Johannesburg)
Category:Gordon Institute of Business Science
Category:Businesspeople awarded knighthoods