Julian Ogilvie Thompson (born 1934 in Cape Town, South Africa) is a South African businessman and former chairman of
De Beers and the
Anglo American mining company.
Early life
Julian Ogilvie Thompson was born in 1934 in Cape Town, South Africa. His father,
Newton Ogilvie Thompson
Newton Ogilvie Thompson (27 May 1904, Kentani, Cape Colony - 1 July 1992, Kenilworth, Cape Town) was a South African jurist who served as the 13th Chief Justice of South Africa, from 1971 to 1974.
Early life and education
Thompson was born i ...
, was a judge of
Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa
The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), formerly known as the Appellate Division, is an appellate court in South Africa. It is located in Bloemfontein, the "judicial capital" of South Africa.
History
On the creation of the Union of South Africa f ...
.
Ogilvie Thompson was educated at
Diocesan College
The Diocesan College (commonly known as Bishops) is a private, English medium, boarding and day high school for boys situated in the suburb of Rondebosch in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The school was established on ...
in
Cape Town
Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...
and the
University of Oxford
, mottoeng = The Lord is my light
, established =
, endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019)
, budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20)
, chancellor ...
.
Career
Ogilvie Thompson became personal assistant to
Harry Oppenheimer
Harry Frederick Oppenheimer (28 October 1908 – 19 August 2000) was a prominent South African businessman, industrialist and philanthropist. Oppenheimer was often ranked as one of the wealthiest people in the world, and was considered South A ...
in 1957, and he joined the Anglo American finance division in 1961. He went on to manage and head this division and also joined the De Beers board in 1966.
Ogilvie Thompson was appointed as an executive director of Anglo American in 1971 and as a vice chairman of
Barclays National Bank, former
First National Bank, in 1977. He succeeded Harry Oppenheimer as chairman of
Minorco
The Minorco SA (Minerals and Resources Company) was a mining company based in Luxembourg. It was set up by the South African Anglo American Corporation in 1987 to hold its non-African, non-diamond mining operations. Although Minorco was quoted on ...
in 1982 and as chairman of De Beers in 1985. He succeeded
Gavin Relly as chairman of Anglo American in 1990 and retired as chairman of De Beers in 1997 to become non-executive deputy chairman. After leading the 1999 merger of Anglo American and Minorco, Ogilvie Thompson became its chairman and CEO. He was succeeded by
Tony Trahar in 2000 but continued as non-executive chairman. He resigned as deputy chairman of De Beers in 2002, but continued to be a non-executive director.
Ogilvie Thompson is a member of the Board of Trustees of the
Mandela Rhodes Foundation.
Personal life
Ogilvie Thompson married The Honourable Tessa Mary Brand, daughter of
Thomas Brand, 3rd Viscount Hampden
Brigadier General Thomas Walter Brand, 3rd Viscount Hampden (29 January 1869 – 4 September 1958) was a British peer and soldier, the son of the 2nd Viscount Hampden.
Education
He was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge.
M ...
, in 1956. She died in 2020.
Ogilvie Thompson
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References
External links
1934 births
Alumni of Diocesan College, Cape Town
Living people
South African Rhodes Scholars
South African businesspeople
Alumni of Worcester College, Oxford
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