John passed away peacefully at home on 24 December 2020. He was a wonderful husband, devoted father, grandfather and a good friend to many.
He was one of the ‘founding members’ of the ACT having joined on 10 May 1979. He was a member of Council and chair of the Membership Committee from 1986-1987. He was also a regular attendee and supporter of ACT events; including speaking on occasions, for example, at the Association Symposia in October 1994.
John became involved with the ACT having been appointed the first Group Treasurer of Guinness in the mid-1970s. He retired in 1987 after 30 years with what is now Diageo, but he remained active with all thing’s treasury, attending events and following all the latest trends, as well as being a former Chair of the Society of International Treasurers before its dissolution in 2007.
James Wrangham, founding member and Fellow, remembers John’s contribution to the treasury community:
" I first met John in the early Seventies when he and I were developing embryonic treasury structures for our respective companies He was as determined as I was to find the right structures and techniques for the emerging function and keen to contribute to and benefit from the exchange of knowledge and expertise. The forum in which he and I worked most closely together was the Society of International Treasurers, essentially a talking shop for Treasurers of multinational companies based mainly in the UK, Continental Europe and North America. He played a significant and much appreciated part in guiding and supporting the group and its regular conferences as a member, then Chairman and finally, with his wife Julie as administrator. John realised early on the importance, particularly for those of us who were the first treasurers of UK-based international companies, of tapping in to the experience and expertise of more established operators, particularly in in the large US multinationals. "
The ACT would like to pass on our condolences to his family and friends. He will be sorely missed.
