James Strong (Australian businessman)
| James Strong AO | |
|---|---|
| Born |
James Alexander Strong 31 July 1944 Lismore, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 3 March 2013 (aged 68) North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Chief executive |
James Alexander Strong, AO (31 July 1944 – 3 March 2013) was an Australian businessman and philanthropist.
Born in Lismore, New South Wales, Strong was educated at Lismore High School and Tenterfield High School. At the age of 16, he was selected from 6,000 applicants to undertake officer training at the Royal Military College, Duntroon; however, he dropped out during his fourth year, realising that he was not suited to the military. He then completed tertiary studies at the University of Queensland and the University of Sydney. He qualified as a barrister, and was admitted to the New South Wales Bar in 1976.
Strong entered the business world as a site manager for the mining company Nabalco in 1981, and in 1983 was an executive director of the Australian Mining Council. From 1986 to 1989, he was CEO of Australian Airlines (formerly TAA)—it was during a round of media interviews for the airline that he first donned the distinctive bow tie he would become known for wearing. In 1991, he became national chairman of partners for the law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth, and in 1992, managing director of the DB Breweries Group in New Zealand.
Strong was chief executive and managing director of Qantas from 1993 until 2001, during the time of its merger with his former airline, Australian Airlines. He was appointed to the board of Qantas several years after his departure as CEO. He also held senior roles with several other Australian companies, including: Woolworths Limited, Rip Curl, IAG and Kathmandu.
...
Wikipedia