Ian John Norman (5 February, 1939 – 29 May 2014) was an Australian businessman and retail executive.

Career

Norman met his business partner

Gerry Harvey Gerry Harvey (born 18 September 1939) is an Australian entrepreneur best known for being the executive chairman of Harvey Norman Holdings, a company which runs Australian retail chain Harvey Norman. He co-founded it with Ian Norman in 1982. B ...

when both were working as travelling door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesmen. In 1961, the duo partnered to open their first store in Sydney, which specialised in home appliances and electronics. Their store, which was called Norman Ross, expanded to forty-two stores by 1979, with annual sales of AUS$240 million that year. Harvey and Norman sold the Norman Ross chain to

Grace Brothers Grace Bros was an Australian department store chain, founded in 1885. It was bought by Myer (later Coles Myer) in 1983. There were 25 stores across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory plus a few in Victoria, until they were re ...

who subsequently sold the company to

Alan Bond Alan Bond (22 April 1938 – 5 June 2015) was an English-born Australian businessman noted for his high-profile and often corrupt business dealings. These included his central role in the WA Inc scandals of the 1980s, and what was at the time ...

in 1982. The business partners then co-founded

Harvey Norman Harvey Norman is a large Australian-based, multi-national retailer of furniture, bedding, computers, communications and consumer electrical products. It mainly operates as a franchise, with the main brand and all company-operated stores owned ...

, an Australian independly owned retail chain, that bears their name, in 1982. The new chain offered

consumer electronics Consumer electronics or home electronics are electronic (analog or digital) equipment intended for everyday use, typically in private homes. Consumer electronics include devices used for entertainment, communications and recreation. Usually r ...

, furniture, and other household goods. The first store under the newly created name known as "Harvey Norman" opened at a shopping centre in

Auburn, New South Wales Auburn is a Western Sydney suburb in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Auburn is located west of the Sydney central business district and is in the local government area of Cumberland City Council, having previously been the administrativ ...

, in 1982, the same year as the sale.

Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also re ...

, had estimated in 2001, that he was 37th richest person in Australia. By 2014, Ian Norman, who remained an executive, held 175 million shares of Harvey Norman, a 16.5% stake worth an estimated $560 million. Norman who had previously resided at

Darling Point, New South Wales Darling Point is a harbourside eastern suburb of Sydney, Australia. It is 4 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of Woollahra Council. Darling Point is bounded by Sydney Harbour to t ...

, died from throat cancer at his home at

Terrigal, New South Wales Terrigal is a coastal town in the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, located east of Gosford on the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the local government area. History Terrigal was first settled in 1826 by European Settler John Gray, ...

on 29 May 2014, at the age of 75.

References

2014 deaths Australian company founders Australian business executives Retail company founders Australian businesspeople in retailing 1939 births {{Australia-business-bio-stub