Nicky Oppenheimer
| Nicky Oppenheimer | |
|---|---|
 Oppenheimer (right) with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2006. | |
| Born |
8 June 1945 South Africa |
| Residence | South Africa |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Net worth | US$ 6.8 billion(November 2014)[1] |
| Religion | Anglican |
| Spouse(s) | Orcillia Lasch |
| Children | Jonathan Oppenheimer |
| Parent(s) | Harry and Bridget (née McCall) Oppenheimer |
Nicholas "Nicky" F. Oppenheimer (born 8 June 1945) is a South African businessman and philanthropist. He was formerly the Chairman of De Beers diamond mining company and of its subsidiary, the Diamond Trading Company, and former Deputy Chairman of the Anglo American Corporation.
Early life
Nicholas is the son of Bridget (née McCall) and Harry Oppenheimer, and grandson of Ernest Oppenheimer, founder of Anglo American and the first generation of the family to chair (from 1929) the De Beers diamond mining company in South Africa, established by Cecil John Rhodes in 1888.[2] Nicky Oppenheimer was educated at Harrow School and Christ Church, Oxford, where he read Philosophy, Politics and Economics and took the Oxford MA.[3]
Business career
Nicky Oppenheimer joined the Anglo American Corporation in 1968, and was appointed a director in 1974. He became Deputy Chairman in 1983. He subsequently resigned as Deputy Chairman in 2001 but remained a non-executive director of the Anglo American board until 2011.
Oppenheimer was appointed Deputy Chairman of the then Central Selling Organisation (now Diamond Trading Company) in 1984 and Deputy Chairman of De Beers Consolidated Mines in 1985. He was appointed Chairman of the Diamond Trading Company in 1985.[4] He was Chairman of the De Beers Group from 1998 to 2012, at which point he retired when the family stake was sold to Anglo American.[5]
Philanthropy
The Oppenheimer family has directed much of its philanthropic efforts towards preserving the heritage and cultural importance of the Southern African region, as well as to broader community upliftment in the areas of education, health, nature conservation and the arts. Nicky Oppenheimer and his son Jonathan Oppenheimer established the Brenthurst Foundation in 2005 as a way to contribute to the debate around strategies and policies for strengthening Africa's economic performance and enabling inclusive and sustainable development. The family has also long been involved in environmental and conservation issues.[6] The Oppenheimer family partnered with De Beers to establish the Diamond Route in 2006 to maximize the potential of their properties for conservation, research and environmental awareness purposes. The Diamond Route links 8 sites across northern South Africa, stretching from Namaqualand on the west coast, to Kimberley, north to Tswalu in the Kalahari, and to the Brenthurst Gardens in Johannesburg, eastwards to Ezemvelo Nature Reserve and northwards to the Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve in Limpopo Province.[7]
Awards
In 2003, the Technikon Witwatersrand in South Africa bestowed Nicky Oppenheimer with a Doctorate in Technology, honoris causa.[8] He was the first recipient of such an honorary doctorate by the Technikon to a person in the public and private sector. He has also received the Presidential Order of Honor (2004) from the former President of the Republic of Botswana, Mr. Festus Mogae,[9] and an Honorary Fellowship (2009) from the London Business School.[10]
Personal life
In 1968, he married Orcillia "Strilli" Lasch, daughter of industrial tycoon Helli Lasch; both are Anglican. His father was born Jewish, but converted to Anglicanism.[11]
Publications
- Waltham Place: and its Surrounding Parish (2001) by Luke Over, Nicky Oppenheimer, and Chris Tyrrell (illustrator); ISBN 0-9541669-0-6 [12]
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Forbes: "Africa's 50 Richest" November 2014
- ↑ De Beers: "Our History" 2014
- ↑ DEbswana: "Nicky Oppenheimer" 2000
- ↑ Mining Weekly: "De Beers' Nicky oppenheimer to receive lifetime achievement award" 24 August 2012
- ↑ Rough and Polished: "After De Beers, what's next for the Oppenheimers?" 12 January 2012
- ↑ Tswalu kalahari Reserve: "The Oppenheimer Story"
- ↑ Diamond Route: "Our Story"
- ↑ Bloomber: "Nicholas "Nicky" Oppenheimer"
- ↑ Polished Prices: "Weekly Market Report" 5 September 2010
- ↑ Israeli Diamond: "Nicky Oppenheimer Takes helm as Debswana Chairman" 01 September 2010
- ↑ "Diamonds May Not Be For Ever – But At The Moment They Look Pretty Good", Jewish Business News by Clive Minchom, 11 June 2013; accessed 3 May 2014.
- ↑ Amazon: "Waltham Place: and its Surrounding Parish" Nicholas Oppenheimer November 2001
External links
- Biography from De Beers
- Oppenheimer's Waltham Place Gardens and Farm
- Interview in The Guardian, 2005
- Profile in The Economist, 2003
| Preceded by Harry Frederick Oppenheimer |
Chairman of De Beers Consolidated Mines circa 1983-2012 |
Succeeded by Cynthia Carroll |