Owen Glenn

Sir Owen Glenn KNZM
Born	19 February 1940 Calcutta, India
Occupation	Businessman and Philanthropist

Sir Owen George Glenn KNZM

(born 19 February 1940) is an expatriate New Zealand businessman and philanthropist, who supports hundreds of humanitarian causes worldwide through his family charity.

Born in Calcutta, India, his family emigrated to New Zealand in 1952. Glenn attended Balmoral Intermediate School and Mount Roskill Grammar School in Auckland.

Career

Mr. Glenn is the founder and former executive chairman of Vanguard Logistics Services, which is the USA's largest neutral non-vessel operating common carrier [logistics industry participant] and among the top five largest NVOCCs in the world. He stated "Top quality business education is vital to the future success of New Zealand and I am delighted to be able to help in this way and to be a part of the vision of the business school and The University of Auckland."

Philanthropy

In 2002, Glenn donated $7.5 million to the University of Auckland for the development of the Business School’s premises and facilities and ongoing improvements. This contribution is believed to be the largest private donation in New Zealand educational history, and was driven by Mr. Glenn's belief in the business school's mission and in the benefits high quality business education holds for New Zealand business and society. As a result of this gift the business school’s complex, opened in early 2008, was named the Owen G. Glenn Building. Owen Glenn followed his initial $7.5 million donation by, in 2008, donating an additional $500,000 to establish the Barry Spicer and Owen G Glenn PhD Scholarships. These scholarships received matched funding of $250,000.

Glenn was also the potential candidate for diplomatic posting overseas in Monaco, where he would represent the people of New Zealand interest's there. His political donations to the New Zealand Labour Party and the New Zealand First Party, which both the political parties denied receiving, caused some controversy in New Zealand politics.

On 9 September 2008, Glenn voluntarily provided evidence to the New Zealand Parliament's Privileges Committee regarding the accuracy of statements made by Winston Peters, Leader of the New Zealand First Party, about the donations Mr. Glenn had given to Peters. Parliament ultimately censured Peters for failing to declare the donations, which New Zealand law requires of all political parties. Glenn was thanked by Parliament.

Mr. Glenn supports a number of international charities through the Glenn Family Foundation and helped establish the International SeaKeepers Society. Owen Glenn provided huge support for Hockey NZ through the Glenn Family Foundation, that helped Hockey NZ achieve rights to the hosting of the 2011 Champions Trophy, which were taken from India due to organisation failures.

Following a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck New Zealand's South Island in February 2011, Owen Glenn donated $1 million to the Christchurch quake recovery fund on behalf of the Glenn Family Foundation. He stated "I grew up in New Zealand, it holds a special place in my heart and to see such devastation, such hurt and such loss makes you want to help. This donation is something I can do and I strongly urge other expatriate business people to do the same. We all need to pull together and while we are a small country, it is a country made up of people with huge hearts. That's what gets you through in times like this."

NZ Warriors involvement

Since 2000, Sir Owen Glenn has been a shareholder of the New Zealand Warriors, New Zealand's pre-eminent rugby league team. After his relationship with 50% shareholder Eric Watson became dysfunctional, Owen Glenn first considered putting his shares into a trust for the benefit of NZ Warrior fans. However, he ultimately sold his 50% stake to Watson in November 2015.

Honours and awards

In the New Year Honours 2008 Glenn was appointed an Officer of The New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and the community.

In May 2011, Owen Glenn was awarded CPA Australia's highest honour - Honorary Fellow of CPA (FCPA) - in recognition of his global entrepreneurial success.

In the New Year Honours 2013 Glenn was promoted to a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to philanthropy.

Timeline

1940	Born in Calcutta, India.
1952	Family immigrated to New Zealand; attended Balmoral Intermediate and Mt Roskill Grammar.
	Worked at the Bank of New Zealand.
1961	Overseas experience in Europe/Australia.
1962	Returned to New Zealand; worked for TEAL (now Air New Zealand), then Emery Air Freight . 1967 approx set up Penson Forwarding in Sydney before work with Swire Group.
1969	In the UK: joined the Swire Group (included Cathay Pacific Airways). Proposed they form a joint venture company with the Ocean Group.
	Resulted in MSAS (McGregor Swire Air Services), later EXCEL Logistics – one of the world’s largest logistical groups.
1976	With a partner, set up Sydney-based freight company, Pacific Forwarding Group.
1978	DCL (Direct Container Line) was launched in the USA as an NVOCC (Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier).
	Owen took over DCL (Los Angeles).
	DCL soon became the biggest NVOCC and the second-largest exporter of goods in the USA.
1989	DCL won an "E for Export Award" from President Reagan.
	Owen completed the Harvard OPM (Owner/President Management Programme 1989-1990).
1991	DCL won an "E Star Award" for continued contributions to the Export Expansion Program of the United States of America.
	Owen was presented with a USA "Entrepreneur of the Year" Award.
1994	Owen led the formation of NACA (North American Consolidation Association).
2001	Glenn creates OTS Logistics Group through a series of acquisitions. DCL, merged with Brennan International and Conterm Consolidation Services in 1998, is renamed the OTS Logistics Group.
2012	London based private equity group Man Capital LLP acquires OTS Logistics Group.