Robert Champion de Crespigny
Encyclopedia
Robert James Champion de Crespigny, AC
(born 1950) is an Australia
n businessman.
and the University of Melbourne
, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce
degree.
for 13 years with KMG Hungerford in Perth, Western Australia
, where he was partner for 10 years.
, South Australia
when it took control of Poseidon Limited. Normandy was taken over by Newmont Mining
in 2002 but he and his family remained in Adelaide.
In September 2001, at the start of the AngloGold - Newmont takeover war for Normandy, he warned that Australia could lose control of more gold assets because of a lack of support from local institutional investors. He argued for the support of Western Mining
, should his own company fall to foreign investment.
, a company led by the ordained Rabbi Joseph Gutnick
, through Yandal Gold, a company it owned a 49.9% interest in. This offer came under investigation from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission
, which demanded a termination of the offer on 23 March 1999. Gutnick and Crespigny were found to have illegally structured a takeover of the company and Gutnick was ordered to return $28.5 million to investors. The court found that their behaviour in jointly bidding $450 million earlier that year for Great Central Mines was unlawful and deceptive. Both Gutnick and Crespigny had shareholdings in GMC before this bid was launched, and they agreed together to form the Yandal Gold company. The court found however, that it was only Gutnick who received any benefit and it was therefore him who had to pay the $28.5 million.
The deal nevertheless went ahead and brought the Bronzewing
, Jundee
and Wiluna Gold Mine
s to the company.
Council, the Commonwealth
Expert Group on Democracy and Development, the South Australian Museum
, the Australian Gold Council, the World Gold Council
, the Minerals Council of Australia
and the Business Council of Australia
. Champion de Crespigny was the thirteenth Chancellor of the University of Adelaide
from 1 June 2000 until 26 July 2004.
and Mark Textor
. In February 2010, Barclays Capital
announced that de Crespigny had joined the advisory panel of its natural resource investment business.
-based Carnegie Mellon University
to Adelaide. In addition, he served on the Executive Committee of Cabinet of South Australian Government.
, to business and to the community in the areas of cultural preservation and education. He was also in the same year awarded the South Australian Director of the Year by the Australian Institute of Company Directors and South Australian of the Year for 2002 by SA Great. In 1993 he was awarded Australian Businessman of the Year.
Champion de Crespigny is currently a resident of the UK.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 1950) is an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n businessman.
Early life and education
Champion de Crespigny was educated at Melbourne Grammar SchoolMelbourne Grammar School
Melbourne Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school predominantly for boys, located in South Yarra and Caulfield, suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
and 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...
, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Commerce
A Bachelor of Commerce is an undergraduate degree in commerce and related subjects. The degree is also known as the Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, or BCA...
degree.
Accounting
Upon completing his studies, he practiced as a Chartered AccountantChartered Accountant
Chartered Accountants were the first accountants to form a professional body, initially established in Britain in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants , the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants were each granted a royal charter almost from...
for 13 years with KMG Hungerford in Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, where he was partner for 10 years.
Mining
In October 1985, he left the accounting profession and formed Normandy Mining Limited. He remained its Executive Chairman through its 17 years of activity. In 1988, Champion de Crespigny and his family moved to AdelaideAdelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
when it took control of Poseidon Limited. Normandy was taken over by Newmont Mining
Newmont Mining
Newmont Mining Corporation , based in Denver, Colorado, USA, is one of the world's largest producers of gold, with active mines in Nevada, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana and Peru. Holdings include Santa Fe Gold, Battle Mountain Gold, Normandy Mining, Franco-Nevada Corp and Fronteer Gold...
in 2002 but he and his family remained in Adelaide.
In September 2001, at the start of the AngloGold - Newmont takeover war for Normandy, he warned that Australia could lose control of more gold assets because of a lack of support from local institutional investors. He argued for the support of Western Mining
WMC Resources
WMC Resources Limited was an Australian diversified mining and fertilizer company formerly listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. WMC was an acronym for Western Mining Corporation. It was delisted on 29 June 2005 following a successful takeover by BHP Billiton...
, should his own company fall to foreign investment.
Great Central Mines takeover
In early 1999, Normandy made an offer for Great Central MinesGreat Central Mines
Great Central Mines was an Australian gold mining company.The company lost its independence in 1999, when it was taken over by Normandy Mining, and was renamed Normandy Yandal Operations Limited in 2000. The company's takeover however led to lengthy court proceedings, initiated by the Australian...
, a company led by the ordained Rabbi Joseph Gutnick
Joseph Gutnick
Joseph Isaac Gutnick is an Australian businessman and mining industry entrepreneur. He is also an ordained rabbi and is well known for his philanthropy in the Jewish world.-Business holdings:Among Gutnick's business holdings:...
, through Yandal Gold, a company it owned a 49.9% interest in. This offer came under investigation from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission
Australian Securities and Investments Commission
The Australian Securities & Investments Commission is an independent Australian government body that acts as Australia's corporate regulator...
, which demanded a termination of the offer on 23 March 1999. Gutnick and Crespigny were found to have illegally structured a takeover of the company and Gutnick was ordered to return $28.5 million to investors. The court found that their behaviour in jointly bidding $450 million earlier that year for Great Central Mines was unlawful and deceptive. Both Gutnick and Crespigny had shareholdings in GMC before this bid was launched, and they agreed together to form the Yandal Gold company. The court found however, that it was only Gutnick who received any benefit and it was therefore him who had to pay the $28.5 million.
The deal nevertheless went ahead and brought the Bronzewing
Bronzewing Gold Mine
The Bronzewing Gold Mine is a gold mine located approximately 83 km north-east of Leinster, Western Australia. The mine, owned by Navigator Resources Limited, was, until early 2010, in care and maintenance after its previous owner, View Resources Limited went into administration.The mine is...
, Jundee
Jundee Gold Mine
The Jundee Gold Mine is an active gold mine in Western Australia, approximately 55 km north east of the town of Wiluna, owned by Newmont Mining.-History:...
and Wiluna Gold Mine
Wiluna Gold Mine
The Wiluna Gold Mine is an active gold mine in Western Australia near the town of Wiluna. The mine was active from 1984 till its closure in 2007; when it was put into care and maintenance; and again since late 2008....
s to the company.
Public life
He has also been a member of a number of associations, such as the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, the National Gallery of AustraliaNational Gallery of Australia
The National Gallery of Australia is the national art gallery of Australia, holding more than 120,000 works of art. It was established in 1967 by the Australian government as a national public art gallery.- Establishment :...
Council, the Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
Expert Group on Democracy and Development, the South Australian Museum
South Australian Museum
The South Australian Museum is a museum in Adelaide, South Australia, founded in 1856. It occupies a complex of buildings on North Terrace in the cultural precinct of the Adelaide Parklands.-History:...
, the Australian Gold Council, the World Gold Council
World Gold Council
The World Gold Council is a non-profit association of the world's leading gold mining companies, established in 1987 to promote the use of gold. It aims to stimulate demand for gold from industry, consumers, and investors. The Council's Chief Executive Officer is Aram Shishmanian, former head of...
, the Minerals Council of Australia
Minerals Council of Australia
The Minerals Council of Australia is an industry association, notable for representing companies that generate the majority of Australia's mining output.-External links:*...
and the Business Council of Australia
Business Council of Australia
The Business Council of Australia represents the chief executives of approximately 100 large Australian corporations. It was formed in 1983 by the merger of the Business Roundtable - a spin-off of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia - and the Australian Industry Development...
. Champion de Crespigny was the thirteenth Chancellor of the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
from 1 June 2000 until 26 July 2004.
Corporate interests
He is on a number of company boards, including serving as Chairman of market research firm Crosby Textor which was founded by Lynton CrosbyLynton Crosby
Lynton Crosby AO is an Australian political strategist.Having masterminded four successive election victories for John Howard, he has been described as a "master of the dark political arts," "the Australian Karl Rove," and in 2002 The Age newspaper described Crosby as "one of the most powerful and...
and Mark Textor
Mark Textor
Mark Textor is an Australian pollster and campaign strategist. He was the principal pollster for former Australian Prime Minister John Howard....
. In February 2010, Barclays Capital
Barclays Capital
Barclays Capital is a global British investment bank. It is the investment banking division of Barclays plc which has a balance sheet of over £1.2 trillion . Barclays Capital provides financing and risk management services to large companies, institutions and government clients. It is a primary...
announced that de Crespigny had joined the advisory panel of its natural resource investment business.
Government
At the invitation of the Premier of South Australia, he chaired the South Australian Economic Development Board from 2002 until 2006. In that role he was very active in developing and promoting South Australia, including attracting the PittsburghPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
-based Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
to Adelaide. In addition, he served on the Executive Committee of Cabinet of South Australian Government.
Honours
In 2002, Champion de Crespigny was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia for his service to the mining industryMining in Australia
Mining in Australia is a significant primary industry and contributor to the Australian economy. Historically, mining booms have also encouraged immigration to Australia. Many different ores and minerals are mined throughout the country.-History:...
, to business and to the community in the areas of cultural preservation and education. He was also in the same year awarded the South Australian Director of the Year by the Australian Institute of Company Directors and South Australian of the Year for 2002 by SA Great. In 1993 he was awarded Australian Businessman of the Year.
Champion de Crespigny is currently a resident of the UK.