Sir John Basil Zochonis (2 October 1929 – 30 November 2013) was a British industrialist and philanthropist, the chairman of PZ Cussons, and the great nephew of its founder,

George Zochonis George Basil Zochonis (c. 1852–1929) was a Greek businessman, who was a founder of PZ Cussons, one of the United Kingdom's largest personal health care and consumer goods manufacturing businesses. Career Brought up in Greece, George Zochonis ...

Early life

John Zochonis was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

Career

He joined PZ Cussons in 1953.

Philanthropy

He was well known for his charity, and has been called "possibly the largest giver in the North West". He gave to, inter alia,

Chethams School of Music Chetham's School of Music () is an independent co-educational music school in Manchester, England. Chetham's educates students between the ages of 8 and 18, all of whom enter via musical auditions. Students receive a full academic education alon ...

, the Clonter Opera, the Buxton Festival, the Manchester International Festival, Manchester Art Gallery, the

Lowry Centre The Lowry is a theatre and gallery complex at Salford Quays, Salford, Greater Manchester, England. It is named after the early 20th-century painter L. S. Lowry, known for his paintings of industrial scenes in North West England. The complex op ...

, Manchester Midday Concerts Society, Royal Exchange Theatre and the Northern Chamber Orchestra.

Personal life

In 1990, he married Brigid Demetriades (née Smyth), who survives him.

References

1929 births 2013 deaths Knights Bachelor Alumni of Corpus Christi College, Oxford Deputy Lieutenants of Greater Manchester John 20th-century British philanthropists {{UK-business-bio-stub