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Robert Johnston (businessman)

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Robert Johnston
Chairman of the Australian Trade Commission
In office
17 December 1993 – 7 May 1995
Preceded byBill Ferris
Succeeded byRoger Allen (acting)
Personal details
Born
Robert Henry 'Bob' Johnston

(1924-05-26)26 May 1924
Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
Died7 May 1995(1995-05-07) (aged 70)
Houston, Texas, United States of America
SpouseRaymonde Garner
(m. 1958; div. 1971)
EducationNorth Newtown Boys' Intermediate High School
Sydney Technical College
Occupation
Military service
AllegianceAustralia
Branch/serviceRoyal Australian Navy
Years of service1942–1946
RankLieutenant
Battles/wars

Robert Henry Johnston AO (26 May 1924 – 7 May 1995) was an Australian industrialist and businessman who was the President of Toyota Australia from 1986 to 1994 and was the Chairman of the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) between 1993 and 1995.[1]

Robert Johnston was born in 1924 in Camperdown in Sydney, New South Wales.[1][2] He studied at North Newtown Boys' Intermediate High School, where he matriculated in 1938. From there, Johnston began work as a copy-boy at John Fairfax & Sons.[1] However, in June 1942 Johnston was selected for officer training in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve. It was by January 1943, in which he became a midshipman on HMAS Assault and later served on HMAS Kanimbla. He was later promoted to Lieutenant in May 1946.[2][3] Johnston was decommissioned in June that year in which he later studied at the Sydney Technical College and became an associate of the Australian Society of Accountants.[1]

Between 1951 and 1986 Johnston would rise through the ranks of the John Fairfax & Sons to become its chief financial officer and also other motor vehicle manufacturers in Australia, including the precursors to Toyota.[1][3]

By 1986 the Japanese car manufacturer had concentrated significant control over various manufactures in Australia, leading to Johnston to become the chairman and chief executive officer of Toyota Australia.[4][2] However, this would be further solidified in 1989, where Johnston also became the President of the new Toyota Australia, after the Melbourne and Sydney branches merged.[5][1] Under Johnston's leadership Toyota emerged as the largest car manufacturer in Australia, surpassing both Holden and Ford.[1] In addition to this, he would also become the President of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries from 1990 to 1992.[1]

In November 1993 the Minister for Trade and Overseas Development, John Kerin, invited Johnston to lead the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) board as Chairman, following the retirement of Bill Ferris.[6] After retiring from Toyota in December 1994, the final year of his life was consumed by consistent bouts of ill health and cancer diagnoses.[3] Ultimately, following Johnston's death in May 1995, at the age of 70, Prime Minister Paul Keating remarked in a press release that Johnston was a "true captain of Australian industry" and through his actions, had strengthened Australia's economic ties with the emerging markets of Japan and China.[7][2]

In the 1994 Australia Day Honours List, Johnston was awarded with the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to manufacturing particularly in relation to the automotive industry.[8]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Cunneen, Chris (2019). "Robert Henry (Bob) Johnston (1924–1995)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Brewer, Peter (9 May 1995). "Reverend captain of trade". Canberra Times. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Death of Robert Henry Johnston AO". Minister for Trade (Press release). Commonwealth of Australia. 8 May 1995. Archived from the original on 28 April 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  4. ^ Gover, Paul (15 February 1989). "Australian named to head unified Toyota". Canberra Times. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Industry appointment a first for Toyota". Canberra Times. 4 May 1990. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  6. ^ "New Austrade chief". Canberra Times. 27 November 1993. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  7. ^ "STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON PJ KEATING MP ROBERT HENRY JOHNSTON AO, CHAIRMAN OF AUSTRADE". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 9 May 1995. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Officer of the Order of Australia entry for Mr Robert Henry JOHNSTON". Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 26 January 1994. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
Government offices
Preceded by Chairman of the Austrade
17 December 1993 – 7 May 1995
Succeeded by
Roger Allen (acting)