The distinguished Australian businessman David Crawford has died at the age of 80.
The former president of Lendlease and South32 died at his Melbourne home on Thursday.
Crawford built a successful career as a dominant figure in Australia’s business world, leading some of the country’s largest companies.
The renowned businessman earned his education at Melbourne’s prestigious Scotch College before working at consultancy firm KPMG for 30 years.
He rose to prominence at the company following the 1987 stock market crash and led major corporate insolvency actions, including against disgraced tycoons Alan Bond and Christopher Skase.
Crawford also chaired well-established commercial sector companies including National Foods, Foster’s Group, BHP’s mining subsidiary South32 and property giant Lendlease, and also held senior roles at BHP and Westpac.
In addition to his corporate exploits, Crawford also became an influential figure in educational institutions, sports organizations, and the arts.
He served as a board member and president of the private school Scotch College and chaired the Australian Ballet.
Former Lendlease and South32 chairman David Crawford (pictured) died at his inner-city home in Melbourne on Thursday aged 80.
Crawford also became a member of the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) Committee in 1997 and was appointed Treasurer in 2001 before becoming Vice-President of the club in 2009.
In 2003, Crawford was part of the historic Independent Football Review Committee, which published a report into the governance of football in Australia.
The report, commonly called the “Crawford report”, led to a major restructuring of the administration and financing of football in Australia.
Crawford also spearheaded three other reports on the future of the AFL and cricket in Australia, which led to reforms in both sports.
In 2009, he received the Queen’s Birthday Honors and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia.
The MCC shared a touching tribute to Mr. Crawford, remembering him as a “humble gentleman” with an unparalleled passion for sports and business.
“His business acumen and affiliation with sporting bodies such as the AFL and Cricket Australia during his professional career assisted in the negotiation of numerous club deals during his tenure,” the MCC said in a statement.
Crawford (pictured with Graham Kerr at South32’s ASX launch in Perth) has been remembered as a titan in some of the country’s biggest corporate boardrooms and an influential figure in Australia’s arts and sporting scene.
‘David was deeply respected by his peers, who often admired his common sense approach to challenges and his commitment to excellence.
“David was an integral part of the Melbourne Cricket Club community and will be deeply missed.”
In 2018, Crawford resigned as president of Lendlease and in the following years resigned as president of South32.
His wife Maureen and their three children along with their families will say goodbye to him at a funeral held at Melbourne’s Scotch College on Wednesday.