Owen Glenn to become Fellow of CPA Australia
CPA Australia’s New Zealand Division today announced it has awarded renowned Kiwi business leader and philanthropist Owen Glenn, with its highest honour ? Fellow of CPA (FCPA), in recognition of his global entrepreneurial success.
Honorary fellowships are awarded by CPA Australia to leaders of a country’s business community. CPA recognises leaders who have set the standard in their industry and delivered on a vision to build their own companies while contributing to their countries.
Global President for CPA Australia, Low Weng Keong, welcomed the group’s newest FCPA.
"Owen Glenn's considerable record of strategic business leadership and entrepreneurship, combined with his commitment to education and broader philanthropy, represents a perfect fit with the qualities and values espoused by CPA Australia. It is a great honour therefore to welcome such a distinguished business and community leader into the CPA Australia fold," said Low.
Glenn heads one of the largest logistics companies in the world OTS Logistics Group. In addition to being successful in business on a global scale, Glenn supports a number of international charities through the Glenn Family Foundation, which has as a guiding principle a commitment to educate those that wish to learn. As such, the Foundation announced a donation of $7.5 million to the University of Auckland for the development of its business school in 2002. This contribution is believed to be the largest private donation in New Zealand educational history.
Glenn said he was pleased to be a part of an international professional finance body of over 129, 000 members, which works to cultivate global financial leadership and expertise.
“New Zealand benefits from the international experience gained by our professionals. I’m honoured to be recognised for contributing to this body of knowledge and also delighted to join the ranks of a family tradition. With both my brother and my late father serving in the finance profession, our family get-togethers were punctuated with vigorous debates between the accounting versus marketing perspectives!” said Glenn. “It would indeed have made my father proud, as it does myself, to accept, with humility, this wonderful gesture.”
New Zealand Branch Council President, David Searle expressed on behalf of the New Zealand council the privilege and honour of having someone of the calibre of Glenn become an Honorary FCPA: “It is a proud day for us all,” said Searle. “Mr. Glenn’s contributions to New Zealand will be instrumental in developing the high- quality accounting and business graduates, and strategic business leaders required to enhance the productivity, growth and global competitiveness of New Zealand enterprises. We’d also like to thank past President, Chye Heng for coordinating this great honour.”
Glenn will receive his award at a CPA Australia event later this year that honours leaders in New Zealand’s business and finance community.
FCPAs representing CPA Australia’s highest level of professional accounting skill in New Zealand include:
- Nigel Morrison, CEO of SkyCity
- David Shand, Financial Management Adviser, World Bank
- Chye Heng, CFO and executive director of BECA
- Craig Jones, CFO of NZ Oil and Gas
- Dean Greg Whittred, University of Auckland Business School
CPA Fellowship is bestowed on leading CPA members with at least 15 years' experience in finance and at least five years' experience as a finance executive.
About CPA Australia’s in New Zealand
CPA Australia is the global professional accountancy designation for strategic business leaders. CPA Australia in New Zealand contribute to a worldwide membership of over 129, 000. CPA Australia members are leaders of many of New Zealand’s largest and most recognised organisations from BECA to Adidas and Villa Maria to Bank of New Zealand.
FCPAs serve as CFOs and financial leaders for major organisations such as Microsoft, ANZ Baking Group, Telstra, Coca Cola and Adidas.
About Owen Glenn
Owen Glenn was born in Calcutta in 1940. He founded and is currently the owner and executive chairman of Vanguard Logistics Group, a billion-dollar revenue company with offices in 105 countries. At the age of 11 he moved to New Zealand where he attended Mt Roskill Grammar. He has six children and nine grandchildren. He was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2008 New Year’s Honours List.
His commitment to philanthropic work is extensive. He established the Glenn Family Foundation over 30 years ago. Its first donation was to organisations in Macau that were involved in supporting the physically and mentally disabled of all ages, schools, nurseries and hospices. Much of what the family foundation does is about supporting disadvantaged children.
In New Zealand, in addition to the $7.5m donation to the Auckland University for the Business School, the Glenn Family Foundation has provided $3.85m to the Millennium Institute, scholarships to support young New Zealanders in their sporting and vocal endeavours and many other worthy New Zealand charities including supporting The Variety Concert. Most recently Owen Glenn gave $1m to the Government’s Christchurch Earthquake Appeal. For more information visit www.glennfamilyfoundation.org
Media Inquiries
David Jenkins, Country Manager CPA Australia ? New Zealand: +64 9 9137453 | +64 21 865 295 David.Jenkins@cpaaustralia.com.au
Valerie Cross, JML Communications: +64 9 358 2828 +64 21 671 452 valerie@jmlcommunications.co.nz
To speak to Owen Glenn, please contact:
Niki Schuck, Niki Schuck PR: +64 21 911 332 or niki@nikischuckpr.com