John Anthony Swire
Sir John Anthony Swire | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date London, England |
| Died | November 28, 2016 (aged 89) |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1950–1997 |
| Known for | Chairman of John Swire & Sons Ltd (1966–1987), Honorary President and Life President thereafter |
Sir John Anthony Swire KStJ (28 February 1927 – 28 November 2016) was a prominent British entrepreneur.
Early life
Swire was born in London on 28 February 1927, the son of John Kidston Swire.
Education
His academic journey included studies at Eton College followed by the University of Oxford.
Career
Between 1945 and 1948, Swire served with the Irish Guards, undertaking duties within the United Kingdom and in Israel. In 1950, he commenced his professional career at Butterfield & Swire, a Hong Kong-based branch of the Swire Group. He joined the Board of John Swire & Sons Ltd in 1955, holding the position of Chairman from 1966 until 1987. Afterward, he acted as Honorary President until 1997, subsequently becoming Life President.
His directorships also encompassed British Bank of the Middle East, Ocean Transport & Trading, James Finlay & Co, and Shell Transport & Trading Co. Furthermore, he contributed to the London Advisory Committee of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation from 1969 through 1989.
In recognition of his services, Swire was named Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1977 and received a knighthood in the 1990 New Year Honours. He was designated an Honorary Fellow at St Antony's College, Oxford in 1987 and awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of Hong Kong in 1989. His advisory roles extended to Stanford Graduate School of Business (1981–1990), and he fulfilled duties as Deputy pro-Chancellor at the University of Kent between 1993 and 1999.
Personal life
Swire passed away on 28 November 2016 at the age of 89.