Sir Ian Munro McLennan (30 November 1909 – 25 October 1998) was a prominent Australian director of public companies, most notably as Chairman of Australia's then largest company, the Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (
BHP).
McLennan was born in
Stawell, Victoria, and spent his early childhood at
Mooroopna. He attended
Scotch College, Melbourne as a boarder, where he was equal Dux of School in 1927. After leaving school he studied electrical engineering at the
University of Melbourne and was a resident at the University's
Ormond College.
After graduating from university in 1932 he joined the Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (
BHP) as a cadet in its
Whyalla works and at the nearby
Iron Knob iron-ore mine. In April 1971 McLennan was appointed Chairman and Director of Administration of
BHP, positions he held until 1977 when he reached the compulsory retirement age for BHP directors. Thus, in just less than forty years he had moved through the company ranks to its most senior position. During that time he had guided the company though a series of major changes including its move into petroleum exploration and production in offshore
Bass Strait
Bass Strait () is a strait separating the island state of Tasmania from the Australian mainland (more specifically the coast of Victoria, with the exception of the land border across Boundary Islet). The strait provides the most direct waterwa ...
.
His directorships and roles included:
*Chairman of
BHP
*Chairman of
ANZ Bank
ANZ may refer to:
People
* Anz (musician), a British DJ and electronic musician
Banks
* ANZ (bank), Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, the fourth-largest bank in Australia
** ANZ Bank New Zealand, the largest bank in New Zealand
...
*Director of
ICI Australia
Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) was a British chemical company. It was, for much of its history, the largest manufacturer in Britain.
It was formed by the merger of four leading British chemical companies in 1926.
Its headquarters were at Mi ...
*Chairman of Interscan Australia Pty Ltd
*Director of
Henry Jones IXL
*Member of the
General Motors
The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...
Advisory Council
He was a
Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (FAA), a Foundation
Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE), and also the Foundation President of
ATSE (1975–1983).
He was a member of the
Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy council, and its president in 1940.
In 1956 he was made a
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services as a member of the Immigration Planning Council.
[McLENNAN, Ian Munro - The Order of the British Empire - Commander (CBE)]
, 2 January 1956, It's an Honour. In 1963 he was elevated to
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...
(KBE) for services to industry.
McLennan endowed his old school,
Scotch College, Melbourne with the Sir Ian McLennan Chair of Design and Technology.
He died in Melbourne in 1998.
Honours and awards
*1964: James N. Kirby Medal of the Institute of Production Engineers
*1968: Honorary Doctorates of Engineering, University of Melbourne and University of Newcastle
*1968:
Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal of the
Institution of Engineers, Australia
Engineers Australia (EA) is an Australian professional body and not-for-profit organisation whose purpose is to advance the science and practice of engineering for the benefit of the community. Engineers Australia is Australia's recognized org ...
*1981: Charles F. Rand Memorial Gold Medal of the
American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers
*1981:
Bessemer Gold Medal of The Metals Society (Great Britain).
*1979:
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George III.
It is named in honour ...
(KCMG) for services to youth, the community and industry.
[ McLENNAN, Ian Munro - The Order of St Michael and St George- Knights Commander (KCMG)]
30 December 1978, It's an Honour.
*1986: The First Class
Order of the Sacred Treasure
The is a Japanese order, established on 4 January 1888 by Emperor Meiji as the Order of Meiji. Originally awarded in eight classes (from 8th to 1st, in ascending order of importance), since 2003 it has been awarded in six classes, the lowest ...
from the Emperor of Japan.
References
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*
{{DEFAULTSORT:McLennan, Ian
1909 births
1998 deaths
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group
People from Stawell, Victoria
People educated at Scotch College, Melbourne
Businesspeople from Melbourne
University of Melbourne alumni
Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science
Bessemer Gold Medal
Australian Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George