Alan Jackson

Alan Robert Jackson (30 March 1936 – 4 August 2018) was an Australian businessman who was the CEO of BTR Nylex between 1984 and 1990 and CEO of BTR plc between 1990 and 1996 He was also a board member on the Reserve Bank of Australia between 1991 and 2001.

Early life and education Alan Jackson was born in Drouin but grew up in Bunyip, in the Western part of the Gippsland in Victoria. Jackon did not complete his High School Certificate, but did a brief management course at Harvard's Business School in 1977.

On 20 January 1962, Jackson married Esme Jackson (née Giles). The couple had four daughters together. He died on 4 August 2018 in Malvern East.

Period at BTR and subsidiaries Jackson became managing director and later CEO of the conveyor belt manufacturer Hopkins Odlum between 1977 and 1984 which would become the precursor to BTR Nylex when the name of Hopkins was changed in 1986 after Nylex was purchased in 1984 from the Australian Consolidated Industries (ACI).

In December 1990, Chairman of BTR, Sir Owen Green elevated Jackson from the position of CEO of Nylex to CEO of the entire BTR company. After nine months as CEO, Jackson purchased Hawker Siddeley for $2.9 billion. By 1993, Jackson controlled, through BTR over 1,500 subsidiary companies in over 60 countries. This was one of the largest conglomerates in Australia, worth an estimated $11.8 billion at that point in time. Ultimately, under his leadership, stocks grew by 40% with the highest profits in 70 years recorded for BTR due to Jackson’s substantial amount of takeovers and strict financial reporting and planning.

He also became a non-executive director of the Seven Network, a board member of the Reserve Bank of Australia and of Cabrini Hospital in Malvern East after leaving BTR in 1995; positions he held until 2001.

Between 1998 and 2001, Jackson became the executive chair of Austrim Nylex, following the selling of BTR’s remaining shares in Nylex, which was financially supported by Richard Pratt and Kerry Stokes. Ultimately, after nearly four years in the role, Jackson was forced to resign, citing ill health and large amounts of accumulated debt from the acquisitions he had made under the new brand of Nylex.

Honours, awards and fellowships

Honours 1991 – Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) "For service to business, to industry and to government" 2001 – Centenary Medal "For outstanding service to Australia's international trade"

Awards 1985 – Australian Business Magazines Businessman of the Year in Australia Award 1993 – Fortunes European CEO of the Year Award

Fellowships 1970s – Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (FCA) 1970s – Fellow of the Australian Society of Accountants (FCPA) 1970s – Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management (FAIM) 1990s – Companion of the British Institute of Management (CBIM)