Leslie Froggatt
Encyclopedia
Sir Leslie Trevor Froggatt (8 April 1920 – 21 October 2010) was a British-born Australian businessman, who was chairman and CEO of Shell Australia
from 1969 to 1980.
in Cheshire
, the son of May and Leslie Froggatt, Snr., a merchant navy engineer. He was educated at Birkenhead Park School, where he captained the cricket and rugby teams and was school vice-captain.
In 1937, Froggatt was employed by the Asiatic Petroleum Company
(later Royal Dutch Shell
) as an accountant, attending night classes to improve his accounting skills.
in 1939, Froggatt intended to join the Royal Navy
, but instead joined the Merchant Navy where he trained as a radio operator. He served aboard the Australian hospital ship Centaur
when it picked up German survivors of the battle between HMAS Sydney and German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran in November 1941. Eighteen months later, Froggatt fell ill and was hospitalised in Melbourne
. As such, he was not on board the Centaur when it was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine.
as an accountant. In 1947 he was posted to Singapore
where he worked until 1954, with interim postings in Bangkok
and Penang
. He was posted to Egypt
from 1955 to 1956, and was detained under house arrest for six months during the Suez Crisis
. As Shell's deputy general manager for Indonesia
, he worked in Jakarta
and Borneo
, followed by senior roles in the company in the United States
and Europe
.
In 1969, Froggatt was appointed chairman and CEO of Shell Australia. During his time as CEO, he was responsible for Shell's involvement in the North West Shelf Venture
. He retired as CEO in 1980, but remained with the company as a non-executive director.
in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1981, in recognition of service to commerce and industry.
Shell Australia
In Australia, Royal Dutch Shell conducts a large range of activities. These include exploration for, and the production and commercialization of, oil and natural gas, the operation of two refineries, 19 terminals and 33 depots for the manufacture and distribution of oil products; and the marketing...
from 1969 to 1980.
Early life
Froggatt was born in 1920 at BirkenheadBirkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, the son of May and Leslie Froggatt, Snr., a merchant navy engineer. He was educated at Birkenhead Park School, where he captained the cricket and rugby teams and was school vice-captain.
In 1937, Froggatt was employed by the Asiatic Petroleum Company
Asiatic Petroleum Company
Asiatic Petroleum Company was a joint venture between the Shell and Royal Dutch oil companies founded in 1903. It operated in Asia in the early twentieth century. The corporate headquarters were on The Bund in Shanghai, China. The division tested the limits of corporate liability in the Lennard's...
(later Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
) as an accountant, attending night classes to improve his accounting skills.
Military career
Upon the outbreak of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1939, Froggatt intended to join the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, but instead joined the Merchant Navy where he trained as a radio operator. He served aboard the Australian hospital ship Centaur
AHS Centaur
Australian Hospital Ship Centaur was a hospital ship which was attacked and sunk by a Japanese submarine off the coast of Queensland, Australia, on 14 May 1943...
when it picked up German survivors of the battle between HMAS Sydney and German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran in November 1941. Eighteen months later, Froggatt fell ill and was hospitalised in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. As such, he was not on board the Centaur when it was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine.
Shell
Froggatt remained in Melbourne following the end of the war, and rejoined Shell AustraliaShell Australia
In Australia, Royal Dutch Shell conducts a large range of activities. These include exploration for, and the production and commercialization of, oil and natural gas, the operation of two refineries, 19 terminals and 33 depots for the manufacture and distribution of oil products; and the marketing...
as an accountant. In 1947 he was posted to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
where he worked until 1954, with interim postings in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
and Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
. He was posted to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
from 1955 to 1956, and was detained under house arrest for six months during the Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
. As Shell's deputy general manager for Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, he worked in Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
and Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
, followed by senior roles in the company in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
In 1969, Froggatt was appointed chairman and CEO of Shell Australia. During his time as CEO, he was responsible for Shell's involvement in the North West Shelf Venture
North West Shelf Venture
The North West Shelf Venture, situated in the north-west of Western Australia, is Australia's largest resource development project. It involves the extraction of petroleum at offshore production platforms, onshore processing and export of liquefied natural gas, and production of natural gas for...
. He retired as CEO in 1980, but remained with the company as a non-executive director.
Honours
Froggatt was made a Knight BachelorKnight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1981, in recognition of service to commerce and industry.