- Don Argus
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Don Argus Born 1 August 1938 Nationality Australian Donald Robert Argus AC (born 1 August 1938) is an Australian businessman, and the former chairman of BHP Billiton and Brambles. He stepped down as Chairman in favour of Jacques Nasser in 2010.
Argus spent much of his early career in the banking industry. He was the general manager of products and service at the National Australia Bank (NAB) having been at the bank since the 1956. He became the Chief Executive Officer on 1 October 1990 succeeding Neil "Nobby" Clark.[1] He was credited with leading NAB to recovery from a difficult period in the late 1980s. However, there was criticism of huge financial losses from overseas acquisitions that occurred under his leadership.[2]
He joined the board at BHP in 1996, and in 1999 he assumed the role of chairman at the corporation, where he oversaw its merger with Anglo-African miner Billiton.[3] He was also part of the board of the winemaker Southcorp, but resigned following its acquisition of Rosemont. In 2007 he was named one of the most influential figures in Australian business by The Bulletin magazine.[4]
He is a close friend of former Prime Minister John Howard, and provided substantial financial backing to the Liberal Party campaign at the 1996 election.[5] Outside of work he is a member of the Queensland cricketer's club.[6]
Honours
Don Argus was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1998 for service to banking and finance, particularly as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Australia Bank Ltd and for his contributions as a member and supporter of a wide range of community and sporting organisations.[7]
He was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001 for service to Australian society through business.[8]
In the Australia Day Honours of 2010, he was raised to Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), for eminent service to business and commerce through leadership in the mining and finance industries, and to the community through the promotion of philanthropy, and executive roles in conservation, health, charitable and sporting organisations.[9]
References
- ^ Aylmer, Sean (3 February 1999). "A Spell For The Don Before BHP". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ Martin, Peter (4 September 2001). "NAB writes off $3.3 billion on US investment". AM. http://www.abc.net.au/am/stories/s357516.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
- ^ Wood, Leonie (4 August 1998). "BHP Banks On Argus". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ Greenwood, Ross (21 September 2007). "Most Influential in Business: 7 Don Argus". The Bulletin. http://bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=297000. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
- ^ Mayne, Stephen (1 May 2007). "What's driving BHP?". Crikey. http://www.crikey.com.au/Business/20070501-Whats-driving-BHP.html. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
- ^ "Keen, but Norway's quite nice right now". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 November 2009. http://www.smh.com.au/business/keen-but-norways-quite-nice-right-now-20091126-jum1.html.
- ^ It's an Honour: AO
- ^ It's an Honour: Centenary Medal
- ^ It's an Honour: AC
Categories:- 1938 births
- Living people
- Australian chief executives
- Officers of the Order of Australia
- Companions of the Order of Australia
- Australian business biography stubs
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