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Sir Eric Paul McClintock (13 September 1918 – 27 March 2018) was an Australian public servant and businessman. He was notable for serving as chairman of Woolworths Limited from 1980 to 1987.
Sir Eric McClintock | |
|---|---|
| Born | Eric Paul McClintock 13 September 1918 |
| Died | 27 March 2018 (aged 99) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Alma mater | De La Salle College, Armidale, University of Sydney |
| Occupation(s) | Public servant, businessman |
| Years active | 1935–2018 |
| Employer | Woolworths Limited (1980–1987) |
| Spouse |
Lady Eve
(m. 1943; died 2013) |
McClintock was born on 13 September 1918 in Gulgong, New South Wales, to Robert Emanuel McClintock (d. 1979),[1] a newspaper proprietor and his wife, Ada Marion McClintock (née Whitton; 1888–1987).[2][3] He was educated at De La Salle College, Armidale, and the University of Sydney, where he played rugby league.[3][4]
McClintock worked in the Naval Supply Office, Department of the Navy, 1935–1947.[5][6] He joined the Australian Trade Commissioner Service, serving in Washington as Commercial Attaché on various international emergency food council committees.[6] He was appointed an Assistant Trade Commissioner in 1948, based in New York.[6] He returned to Australia in 1951 as Director of Trade Promotion in the Department of Commerce and Agriculture.[6]
He was a speech writer for future Prime Minister John McEwen, then Minister for Trade, and served as First Assistant Secretary, Department of Trade, 1958–1961.[7] He was also associated with the Australian Industry Development Corporation.[6]
After leaving the Public Service, he was chairman of Woolworths Limited from 1980 to 1987.[8] During his tenure, the Dick Smith electronics business and Victorian supermarket chain Safeway were acquired, and the "Fresh Food People" slogan was instituted.[9] In 1986, for the first time since 1923, no final dividend was paid on the company's shares.[10]
Directorships and board appointments include Ashton Mining,[11] the Asia Pacific Space Centre Advisory Board,[12] and Commissioner of Medicare Australia 2004–05.[13] He was NSW campaign chair for the Australian Prospectors & Miners' Hall of Fame (now defunct).[14]
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McClintock was married to Lady Eve from 1943 until her death in 2013.[3] They had three children;[3] Paul, the former chairman of Myer and Medibank Private; Leigh, who followed his father into the Department of Trade and worked for Alcoa in North Asia; and Marjorie "Marg", an architect.[3][15] In 2010, McClintock delivered the eulogy at the funeral of his friend and neighbour, the novelist Jon Cleary.[16]
McClintock died in Sydney on 27 March 2018 at the age of 99.[3]
Eric McClintock was knighted in the 1981 New Year's Honours for service to exports and industry.[17]
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