John Elliott (businessman)

John Dorman Elliott (born 3 October 1941) is an Australian businessman and former president of the Liberal Party, and former president of Carlton Football Club. He has frequently provoked controversy due to his political affiliations, his brushes with the law, and his abrasive personal style.

He completed his secondary schooling at Carey Baptist Grammar School, in Kew. He then attended the University of Melbourne and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) degree and later completed a Master of Business Administration degree at Melbourne Business School.

Elliott joined the global consulting firm McKinsey & Co. From there, he acquired control of IXL Ltd, an listed food manufacturer. He and his team built the company up through a string of acquisitions throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, including Australian corporate icons Elders Limited, an agricultural services concern, Carlton and United Breweries now part of the Foster's Brewing Group and Australia's largest beer manufacturer, and Henry Jones IXL food manufacturer. During this time he was also a high-profile President of the Carlton Football Club. He was an effective advocate for the club on a range of issues, and during his presidency the club won two VFL (now AFL) premierships.

In 1985 Elliott's company - by then called Elders IXL - played an important role as a white knight in fending off Robert Holmes à Court's attempted takeover of diversified mining company BHP. Elders bought a large share in BHP which blocked Holmes à Court's attempt to take control. As a result, Elliott joined the BHP board. He then attempted a management buyout of Elders, but this was unsuccessful and left his A$80 million fortune considerably reduced.

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