Owen Glenn
Encyclopedia
Owen G Glenn ONZM is an expatriate New Zealand
businessman and philanthropist, who supports hundreds of humanitarian causes worldwide through his family charity.
Owen Glenn did his secondary schooling at Mount Roskill Grammar School
, in Auckland.
In 2002, Glenn donated $7.5 million to the University of Auckland
for the development of the Business School’s premises and facilities and ongoing improvements.
This contribution is believed to be the largest private donation in New Zealand educational history, and was driven by Mr. Glenn's belief in the business school's mission and in the benefits high quality business education holds for New Zealand business and society. As a result of this gift the business school’s complex, opened in early 2008, was named the Owen G. Glenn Building
. Owen Glenn followed his initial $7.5 million donation by, in 2008, donating an additional $500,000 to establish the Barry Spicer and Owen G Glenn PhD Scholarships. These scholarships received matched funding of $250,000.
Mr. Glenn is the founder and executive chairman of Vanguard Logistics Services, which is the USA's largest neutral non-vessel operating common carrier [logistics industry participant] and among the top five largest NVOCCs in the world. He stated "Top quality business education is vital to the future success of New Zealand and I am delighted to be able to help in this way and to be a part of the vision of the business school and The University of Auckland."
He was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
in the 2008 New Year’s Honours List.
Glenn was also the potential candidate for diplomatic posting overseas in Monaco, where he would represent the people of New Zealand interest's there. His political donations to the New Zealand Labour Party
and the New Zealand First Party, which both the political parties denied receiving, caused some controversy in New Zealand politics.
On 9 September 2008, Glenn voluntarily provided evidence to the New Zealand Parliament's Privileges Committee regarding the accuracy of statements made by Rt Hon Winston Peters
, Leader of the New Zealand First Party, about the donations Mr. Glenn had given to Peters. Parliament ultimately censured Peters for failing to declare the donations, which New Zealand Law requires of all political parties. Glenn was thanked by Parliament.
Mr. Glenn supports a number of international charities through The Glenn Family Foundation and helped establish the International SeaKeepers Society
.
Following a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck New Zealand's South Island in February 2011, Owen Glenn donated $1 million to the Christchurch quake recovery fund on behalf of the Glenn Family Foundation. He stated "I grew up in New Zealand, it holds a special place in my heart and to see such devastation, such hurt and such loss makes you want to help. This donation is something I can do and I strongly urge other expatriate business people to do the same. We all need to pull together and while we are a small country, it is a country made up of people with huge hearts. That's what gets you through in times like this."
In May 2011, Owen Glenn was awarded CPA Australia
's highest honour - Honorary Fellow of CPA (FCPA) - in recognition of his global entrepreneurial success.
Owen Glenn provided huge support for Hockey NZ through the Glenn Family Foundation, this has helped Hockey NZ achieve rights to the hosting of the tournament which was taken from India due to organization failures.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
businessman and philanthropist, who supports hundreds of humanitarian causes worldwide through his family charity.
Owen Glenn did his secondary schooling at Mount Roskill Grammar School
Mount Roskill Grammar School
Mount Roskill Grammar is a secondary school in the suburb of Mount Roskill, Auckland, officially opened in 1954. The school has students of over 70 different nationalities including approximately 200 International students...
, in Auckland.
In 2002, Glenn donated $7.5 million to the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
for the development of the Business School’s premises and facilities and ongoing improvements.
This contribution is believed to be the largest private donation in New Zealand educational history, and was driven by Mr. Glenn's belief in the business school's mission and in the benefits high quality business education holds for New Zealand business and society. As a result of this gift the business school’s complex, opened in early 2008, was named the Owen G. Glenn Building
Owen G. Glenn Building
The Owen G. Glenn Building is the new home of the Business School of the University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, completed in late 2007. It is named after Owen G...
. Owen Glenn followed his initial $7.5 million donation by, in 2008, donating an additional $500,000 to establish the Barry Spicer and Owen G Glenn PhD Scholarships. These scholarships received matched funding of $250,000.
Mr. Glenn is the founder and executive chairman of Vanguard Logistics Services, which is the USA's largest neutral non-vessel operating common carrier [logistics industry participant] and among the top five largest NVOCCs in the world. He stated "Top quality business education is vital to the future success of New Zealand and I am delighted to be able to help in this way and to be a part of the vision of the business school and The University of Auckland."
He was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
in the 2008 New Year’s Honours List.
Glenn was also the potential candidate for diplomatic posting overseas in Monaco, where he would represent the people of New Zealand interest's there. His political donations to the New Zealand Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
and the New Zealand First Party, which both the political parties denied receiving, caused some controversy in New Zealand politics.
On 9 September 2008, Glenn voluntarily provided evidence to the New Zealand Parliament's Privileges Committee regarding the accuracy of statements made by Rt Hon Winston Peters
Winston Peters
Winston Raymond Peters is a New Zealand politician and leader of New Zealand First, a political party he founded in 1993. Peters has had a turbulent political career since entering Parliament in 1978. He served as Minister of Maori Affairs in the Bolger National Party Government before being...
, Leader of the New Zealand First Party, about the donations Mr. Glenn had given to Peters. Parliament ultimately censured Peters for failing to declare the donations, which New Zealand Law requires of all political parties. Glenn was thanked by Parliament.
Mr. Glenn supports a number of international charities through The Glenn Family Foundation and helped establish the International SeaKeepers Society
International SeaKeepers Society
The International SeaKeepers Society is a non-profit organization of international business and political leaders who work toward the awareness and protection of the world's oceans.-The Society:...
.
Following a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck New Zealand's South Island in February 2011, Owen Glenn donated $1 million to the Christchurch quake recovery fund on behalf of the Glenn Family Foundation. He stated "I grew up in New Zealand, it holds a special place in my heart and to see such devastation, such hurt and such loss makes you want to help. This donation is something I can do and I strongly urge other expatriate business people to do the same. We all need to pull together and while we are a small country, it is a country made up of people with huge hearts. That's what gets you through in times like this."
In May 2011, Owen Glenn was awarded CPA Australia
CPA Australia
CPA Australia is one of three professional accounting bodies in Australia, the others being the Institute of Public Accountants and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia....
's highest honour - Honorary Fellow of CPA (FCPA) - in recognition of his global entrepreneurial success.
Owen Glenn provided huge support for Hockey NZ through the Glenn Family Foundation, this has helped Hockey NZ achieve rights to the hosting of the tournament which was taken from India due to organization failures.
| 1940 | Born in Calcutta on 19 February. |
| 1952 | Family immigrated to New Zealand; attended Balmoral Intermediate and Mt Roskill Grammar. |
| Worked at the Bank of New Zealand. | |
| 1961 | Overseas experience in Europe/Australia. |
| 1962 | Returned to New Zealand; worked for TEAL (now Air New Zealand), then Emery Air Freight. |
| 1969 | In the UK: joined the Swire Group (included Cathay Pacific Airways). Proposed they form a joint venture company with the Ocean Group. |
| Resulted in MSAS (McGregor Swire Air Services), later EXCEL Logistics – one of the world’s largest logistical groups. | |
| 1976 | With a partner, set up Sydney-based freight company, Pacific Forwarding Group. |
| 1978 | DCL (Direct Container Line) was launched in the USA as an NVOCC (Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier). |
| Owen took over DCL (Los Angeles). | |
| DCL soon became the biggest NVOCC and the second-largest exporter of goods in the USA. | |
| 1989 | DCL won an "E for Export Award" from President Reagan. |
| Owen completed the Harvard OPM (Owner/President Management Programme 1989-1990). | |
| 1991 | DCL won an "E Star Award" for continued contributions to the Export Expansion Program of the United States of America. |
| Owen was presented with a USA "Entrepreneur of the Year" Award. | |
| 1994 | Owen led the formation of NACA (North American Consolidation Association). |
| Now Vanguard Logistic's Executive Chairman, Owen's vision is for the business to become a fully integrated global transport conglomerate. |