Legacy of Sir Ron Trotter will not be soon forgotten

ACT Leader Rodney Hide today mourns the death of Sir Ron Trotter, one of New Zealand pre-eminent business figures.

“The passing of Sir Ron is the passing of an era in New Zealand business,” says Mr Hide.

“On behalf of the ACT Party I’d like to offer my condolences to his friends and family including Lady Margaret. Our thoughts are with you.”

In the post 1980 period, Sir Ron Trotter led a significant change in the way the business was conducted. He helped New Zealand businesses to move out of a web of subsidies and protections and to foot it competitively on the international stage His modernising influence was an example to a generation of Kiwi entrepreneurs.

Sir Ron led a number of New Zealand’s largest companies. He was Chief Executive and Chairman of Fletcher Challenge from its formation in 1981, was chairman of Telecom as well as being director and chairman of Toyota until 2001.

Sir Ron played a major part in lifting the standard of public policy analysis in New Zealand, particularly through his role as the founding chairman on the New Zealand Business Roundtable.

He was also Chairman of the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research for 13 years in the 1970s and 1980s.

“Sir Ron was more than just a great businessman, he was a great New Zealander, and we pay tribute to his legacy today,” said Mr Hide.