Ian McLennan
Encyclopedia
Sir Ian Munro McLennan was a prominent Australian director of public companies, most notably as Chairman of Australia's largest company BHP
.
McLennan was born in Stawell
and had his early childhood at Mooroopna. He attended Scotch College, Melbourne
as a border, where he was equal Dux of School in 1927. After leaving school studies electrical engineering at the University of Melbourne
and was a resident at the University's Ormond College.
After graduating from university in 1932 he joined BHP
as a cadet in its Whyalla works and at the nearby Iron Knob iron-ore mine. In April 1971 McLennan was appointed Chairman and Director of Administration of BHP
, poistions he held until 1977 when he reached the compulsory retirement age for BHP
directors. Thus, in just less than forty years he had moved through the company ranks to its most senior position. During that time he had guided the company though a series of major changes including its move into pretroleum exploration and production in offshore Bass Strait
.
His directorships and roles have included:
He was a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science
.
McLennan endowed his old school Scotch College with the Sir Ian McLennan Chair of Design and Technology.
In 1979 he was made a Knight Commander
of the Order of St Michael and St George
for services to youth, community and industry.
BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
.
McLennan was born in Stawell
Stawell, Victoria
Stawell , is a town in the Wimmera region of Victoria, Australia. The town is located in Shire of Northern Grampians Local Government Area, west-north-west of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Stawell had a population of 6,035....
and had his early childhood at Mooroopna. He attended Scotch College, Melbourne
Scotch College, Melbourne
Scotch College, Melbourne is an independent, Presbyterian, day and boarding school for boys, located in Hawthorn, an inner-eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
as a border, where he was equal Dux of School in 1927. After leaving school studies electrical engineering at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
and was a resident at the University's Ormond College.
After graduating from university in 1932 he joined BHP
BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
as a cadet in its Whyalla works and at the nearby Iron Knob iron-ore mine. In April 1971 McLennan was appointed Chairman and Director of Administration of BHP
BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
, poistions he held until 1977 when he reached the compulsory retirement age for BHP
BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
directors. Thus, in just less than forty years he had moved through the company ranks to its most senior position. During that time he had guided the company though a series of major changes including its move into pretroleum exploration and production in offshore Bass Strait
Bass Strait
Bass Strait is a sea strait separating Tasmania from the south of the Australian mainland, specifically the state of Victoria.-Extent:The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Bass Strait as follows:...
.
His directorships and roles have included:
- Chairman of BHPBHP BillitonBHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
- Chairman of ANZ Bank
- Director of Imperial Chemical Industries Australia (OricaOricaOrica is a multinational corporation that manufactures various chemical products. It is the largest supplier of mining explosives in the world. -History:...
) - Chairman of Interscan Australia Limited
- Director of Henry Jones (IXL)
- Member of the General MotorsGeneral MotorsGeneral Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
Advisory Council
He was a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science
Australian Academy of Science
The Australian Academy of Science was founded in 1954 by a group of distinguished Australians, including Australian Fellows of the Royal Society of London. The first president was Sir Mark Oliphant. The Academy is modelled after the Royal Society and operates under a Royal Charter; as such it is...
.
McLennan endowed his old school Scotch College with the Sir Ian McLennan Chair of Design and Technology.
In 1979 he was made a Knight Commander
Knight Commander
Knight Commander is the second most senior grade of seven British orders of chivalry, three of which are dormant . The rank entails admission into knighthood, allowing the recipient to use the title 'Sir' or 'Dame' before his or her name...
of the Order of St Michael and St George
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
for services to youth, community and industry.