Maurice Samuel Ostro
| Maurice Samuel Ostro | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 16 February 1965 |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Oxford University, Wadham College |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur & Philanthropist |
| Known for | Business, charity and interfaith relations |
| Spouse(s) | Katy Ostro |
Maurice Samuel Ostro, OBE, KFO (born 16 February 1965) is a British entrepreneur and philanthropist. His business interests have included gemstones, media distribution, property, frozen yogurt and airline catering. His principal philanthropic interests have included interfaith relations and conflict resolution.
On The Queen's 2014 Birthday Honours list, Ostro was appointed an OBE.[1] He has also been appointed a KFO (Knight of the Royal Order of Francis I).[2]
Education
Ostro graduated as a gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America in 1981, before graduating from New York University in 1984, majoring in philosophy and politics. In 1987 he gained a Masters in Jurisprudence at Oxford University's Wadham College, and in 1988 was admitted to the New York Bar.[3]
Business career
In 1992, Ostro founded the frozen yogurt company, Glasay International PLC. The company became the country's leading manufacturer of frozen yogurt and the largest supplier of frozen yogurt to the airline sector globally. Glasay was sold in 2001.[4]
Media on the Move, founded by Ostro to supply media content to airlines, shipping companies and train lines, was sold to London Stock Exchange-listed Watermark PLC.[5][6] Ostro remained as managing director of Media on the Move until 2007.[7]
In 1999, Ostro founded Air Fayre, an airline catering company.[8] Air Fayre was sold to Watermark PLC in 2004;[9] Ostro remained as managing director until 2007.[9]
In 2006, with Ostro already serving as managing director of two of its major divisions, Watermark appointed Ostro as its CEO.[10][11]
In 2010, following the death of his father, he returned to run the eponymous family business; Ostro Minerals is the world's leading producer and distributor of blue topaz.[12][13]
Charitable interests
Ostro is an active philanthropist.[14] He founded the Fayre Share Foundation with a contribution of 10% of the shares of the company Air Fayre, becoming a trustee along with his wife Katy Ostro. The Fayre Share Foundation is a charitable foundation promoting philanthropy, collaboration, interfaith relations and conflict resolution.[15]
In 2008, Ostro became a Vice Chair of the Council of Christians and Jews, the UK's oldest, national interfaith organisation.[16] He was also the initiator and Organising Committee Chair for London Mayor Boris Johnson's Interfaith Conference in 2010, which culminated in the founding of the Faiths Forum for London, a London-wide interfaith initiative, where Ostro is Founding Patron.[17][18]
Governmental experience
Ostro has contributed his skills to a number of government initiatives:
- From 2014, Ostro serves on the Education Expert Group for the Prime Minister’s Commission on the Holocaust[19]
- From 2003–5, Ostro was part of Prime Minister Tony Blair's Strategy Unit on improving life chances of disabled people[20]
- From 2001–5 he served on the SME Board of the National Employment Panel of the Department of Work and Pensions[21]
References
- ↑ Cabinet Office 13 June 2014, Retrieved on 16 June 2014
- ↑ Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George , Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, Retrieved on 16 June 2014.
- ↑ Wadham College , 9 December 2013, Retrieved on 17 June 2014
- ↑ Rebecca Hoar Management Today 2001, Retrieved on 16 June 2014
- ↑ Media on The Move Limited Media on The Move Retrieved on 16 June 2014
- ↑ Journey Group PLC 21 July 2003, Retrieved on 17 June 2014
- ↑ RNS Release – Watermark Group PLC – Directorate Changes Watermark Group PLC 4 June 2007, Retrieved on 14 June 2014
- ↑ Air Fayre LTD 2008, Retrieved on 15 June 2014
- 1 2 Journey Group Plc, 2014, Retrieved on 14 June 2014
- ↑ Watermark Group PLC 2013, Retrieved on 14 June 2014
- ↑ Watermark Group PLC 26 May 2006, Retrieved on 14 June 2014
- ↑ Jewellery News Asia 1 September 2010, Retrieved on 18 June 2014
- ↑ Ostro Blue Ostro Blue Website Retrieved on 16 June 2014
- ↑ Simon Rocker The Jewish Chronicle, 2 August 2012, Retrieved on 17 June 2014
- ↑ "Fayre Share Foundation" 2012, Retrieved on 17 July 2014
- ↑ Council of Christians and Jews "Council of Christians and Jews" 2014, Retrieved on 14 July 2014
- ↑ faithsforum Faiths Forum London
- ↑ London Interfaith Conference and Reception Greater London Authority Retrieved on 18 June 2014
- ↑ British Prime Minister's Office 27 January 2014, Retrieved on 14 June 2014
- ↑ Prime Minister's Strategy Unit January 2005, Retrieved on 14 June 2014
- ↑ National Employment Panel May 2005, Retrieved on 14 June 2014