Donald Gordon
Encyclopedia
Sir Donald Gordon is a South Africa
n businessman and philanthropist
.
before doing his articles to be a Chartered Accountant
at the firm Kessel Feinstein (Now Grant Thornton).
He founded the Liberty Life Association of Africa in 1957 out of which he formed Transatlantic Insurance Holdings plc, now Liberty International
, in 1980.
In June 2005, he was awarded a knighthood in recognition of his services to arts and business.
(GIBS) in Johannesburg, South Africa was established in January 2000 following a substantial contribution by Donald Gordon and a major investment by the University of Pretoria.
In 2004, Donald Gordon gave the Royal Opera House
and Wales Millennium Centre
a collective donation of £20 million payable over five years. This is believed to be one of the largest single private donation ever made to the arts in the UK. Sir Donald has had the Grand Tier at the Royal Opera House as well as the main auditorium of the Wales Millennium Centre named after him. He currently resides in London
.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n businessman and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
.
Career
Educated at King Edward VII School in JohannesburgJohannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
before doing his articles to be a Chartered Accountant
Chartered 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...
at the firm Kessel Feinstein (Now Grant Thornton).
He founded the Liberty Life Association of Africa in 1957 out of which he formed Transatlantic Insurance Holdings plc, now Liberty International
Liberty International
Liberty International plc was a British property investment company. It switched to Real Estate Investment Trust status when REITs were introduced in the United Kingdom in January 2007...
, in 1980.
In June 2005, he was awarded a knighthood in recognition of his services to arts and business.
Other interests
The Gordon Institute of Business ScienceGordon Institute of Business Science
Gordon Institute of Business Science is the business school of the University of Pretoria in Johannesburg, South Africa and a leading South African business school. It is located in the heart of Illovo, Johannesburg, close to the Sandton financial and commercial business hub...
(GIBS) in Johannesburg, South Africa was established in January 2000 following a substantial contribution by Donald Gordon and a major investment by the University of Pretoria.
In 2004, Donald Gordon gave the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
and Wales Millennium Centre
Wales Millennium Centre
Wales Millennium Centre is an arts centre located in the Cardiff Bay area of Cardiff, Wales. The site covers a total area of . Phase 1 of the building was opened during the weekend of the 26–28 November 2004 and phase 2 opened on 22 January 2009 with an inaugural concert...
a collective donation of £20 million payable over five years. This is believed to be one of the largest single private donation ever made to the arts in the UK. Sir Donald has had the Grand Tier at the Royal Opera House as well as the main auditorium of the Wales Millennium Centre named after him. He currently resides in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.