David Gilmour (businessman)

David Gilmour
Born	Template:Birth date Winnipeg, Canada
Died	June 11, 2023(2023-06-11) (aged 91) Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, investor
Known for	Creator of Fiji Water, founder of Wakaya Perfection

David Harrison Gilmour (November 5, 1931 – June 11, 2023) was a prominent Canadian entrepreneur and investor, widely recognized as the creator of Fiji Water. In 2011, he also launched Wakaya Perfection, a nutrition company operating through a multi-level marketing framework.

Early life

Born in Winnipeg on November 5, 1931, David Harrison Gilmour grew up in Toronto. His father, Adam Gilmour, pursued a career in investment banking, while his mother, Doris Godson Gilmour, was an opera vocalist. At the age of 16, instead of accepting initial funding from his father, he opted to travel across Europe. This experience provided him with early entrepreneurial lessons through observation and interaction during his journey.

Career

Gilmour’s entrepreneurial journey began with the founding of Dansk Design, a company specializing in importing Scandinavian furniture and gift items. He later created TrizecHahn, focusing on real estate ventures. In 1958, alongside Peter Munk, he co-founded Clairtone, a manufacturer of stereo equipment. Together they invested in property in Fiji and initiated the Southern Pacific Hotel Corporation hotel chain in 1969, which they sold within a decade for $128 million. Following this, they acquired a gold mine valued at $40 million in Northern Ontario and co-established Barrick Gold. Additionally, Gilmour took ownership of Zinio, now a leading platform distributing digital magazines, books, catalogs, and applications.

Gilmour later purchased Wakaya Island in Fiji; this property was sold in 2016 to Clare Bronfman. In 1996, he and Peter Munk co-founded Fiji Water after discovering an aquifer within the Yaqara Valley on Viti Levu. Fiji Water rapidly became the leading imported bottled water brand worldwide, surpassing competitors like Evian. In 2004, he sold the company to Lynda Resnick for $50 million. Furthermore, he developed Wakaya Club & Spa, an upscale resort on Wakaya Island that has welcomed notable guests such as Prince Felipe of Spain, Nicole Kidman, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Rupert Murdoch, and Tom Cruise. Beyond business ventures, Gilmour contributed to local community development by constructing a village and school for workers on the island.

Personal life

His third spouse, Jill, hails from Auckland, New Zealand. The couple divided their time annually by spending four months on Wakaya Island, while also maintaining residences in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida.

With his first wife Anna, Gilmour had a daughter named Erin. Tragically, Erin was discovered murdered by stabbing in her Toronto apartment at age 22 in 1983. A suspect was identified through genetic genealogy techniques and apprehended in November 2022.

David Gilmour passed away from cardiac arrest in Manhattan on June 11, 2023, aged 91.

Bibliography

• Start Up: The Journey and Insights of a Serial Entrepreneur (2011)