David Orr (businessman)
Encyclopedia
Sir David Alexander Orr was an Anglo-Irish businessman, philanthropist and World War II veteran.
, David Orr attended The High School, Dublin and went on to read Classics at Trinity College, Dublin
where he was a champion boxer as well as captain of rugby.
and was commissioned into the Royal Engineers
, serving with Queen Victoria's Own Madras Sappers and Miners during the reconquest of Burma in 1944-45. He was awarded two Military Cross
es.
as a graduate trainee. From 1955 to 1966 he was posted to Unilever's India subsidiary, Hindustan Lever. He returned to London before moving to New York to become president of Lever Bros in 1965. He retired in 1982.
, a trading group. He also sat on the boards of RTZ and Shell Transport & Trading. From 1983-89 Orr was a member of the court of the Bank of Ireland
.
's “committee to review the functioning of financial institutions” (1977–80). Later he served on the Top Salaries Review Body (civil service) and the Armed Forces Pay Review Body, negotiating directly with then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
.
, captaining the club in 1951-52; he also had a trial for Ireland.
Early years
Born the third of four children of Canon A.W.F. Orr, an Anglican rector and a Canon of Christ Church CathedralChrist Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral is the name of many Anglican cathedrals around the world, and may refer to:-Canada:*Christ Church Cathedral , New Brunswick*Christ Church Cathedral , Quebec*Christ Church Cathedral , Ontario...
, David Orr attended The High School, Dublin and went on to read Classics at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
where he was a champion boxer as well as captain of rugby.
World War II
In 1941 he left school to enlist in the Royal Ulster RiflesRoyal Ulster Rifles
The Royal Ulster Rifles was a British Army infantry regiment. It saw service in the Second Boer War, Great War, the Second World War and the Korean War, before being amalgamated into the Royal Irish Rangers in 1968.-History:...
and was commissioned into the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
, serving with Queen Victoria's Own Madras Sappers and Miners during the reconquest of Burma in 1944-45. He was awarded two Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
es.
Unilever
After the war, Orr returned to Trinity to complete a degree in Law. He joined UnileverUnilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
as a graduate trainee. From 1955 to 1966 he was posted to Unilever's India subsidiary, Hindustan Lever. He returned to London before moving to New York to become president of Lever Bros in 1965. He retired in 1982.
Inchcape
Orr later became chairman of InchcapeInchcape
Inchcape or the Bell Rock is a notorious reef off the east coast of Angus, Scotland, near Dundee and Fife . Bell Rock Lighthouse, an automatic lighthouse, occupies the reef...
, a trading group. He also sat on the boards of RTZ and Shell Transport & Trading. From 1983-89 Orr was a member of the court of the Bank of Ireland
Bank of Ireland
The Bank of Ireland is a commercial bank operation in Ireland, which is one of the 'Big Four' in both parts of the island.Historically the premier banking organisation in Ireland, the Bank occupies a unique position in Irish banking history...
.
Top Salaries Review
He was a member of Harold WilsonHarold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
's “committee to review the functioning of financial institutions” (1977–80). Later he served on the Top Salaries Review Body (civil service) and the Armed Forces Pay Review Body, negotiating directly with then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
.
Globe Theatre
In 1982 Orr had also been asked to help rebuilding the Globe Theatre. As chairman of the Globe Theatre Trust he had been a brilliant fundraiser. The building was finally completed in 1997.Honours
Orr was knighted in 1977. In 1979 he was appointed a Commander of the Dutch Order of Orange Nassau.Affiliations
- Chancellor of Queen's University, Belfast
- President, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
- President, College of Speech Therapists
- Governor, London School of EconomicsLondon School of EconomicsThe London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. - Chairman, British CouncilBritish CouncilThe British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
(1985–92) - Joint Chair, Anglo-Irish Encounter
Sports
A boxer and rugby player, in London he played rugby centre for London IrishLondon Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
, captaining the club in 1951-52; he also had a trial for Ireland.