The Board
Ray Gamble one of the founding directors of Hardie Grant Publishing died on Saturday 3 December 2011 in Griffith. Ray had a massively successful career in radio and regional television and was on the Board from the day the company was established. He was partners with our other investor Directors John Gerahty and David Fitzsimons.
Ray was born in 1928.
He had been ill for a couple of years but was still on the Board and attended a meeting earlier this year. He may have been a bit weak then, but he was absolutely on the ball and made his usual intelligent, acerbic comments. None of us who presented reports or results to him will ever forget his direct, insightful approach. Otherwise described as calling a spade a spade. He was the sort of person that could smell fakes and problems a mile away and always helped us make good decisions.
Ray lived in Griffith where he was a community leader and a hugely respected contributor to a wide range of activities.
We will sincerely and seriously miss Ray. He was kind, respectful and really proud of his role at Hardie Grant.
John Gerahty, Chairman.
A key shareholder of AMI who in turn are Hardie Grant Publishing's major shareholder. John has had 40 years of experience in merchant banking and commerce. An Executive Director of Shroders from 1971, then Hill Samuel from 1978. He became a non executive director of
Macquarie Bank from 1985 until 1994. In addition John has been a director of a number of public companies, a trustee of the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust, a Director of the Sydney Swans and the NSW Cricket Board. he has been Hardie Grant's Chairman from inception.
Sandy Grant, Chief Executive, Director.
Former MD of Heinemann, Octopus and Reed Australia, former CEO of Reed Books UK, a current Director of CAL, former Director of Meanjin, the Australian
Republican
Movement and Chair of the Melbourne Writers Festival, member of the UNESCO City of Literature Bid Committee and one of the longest serving Presidents of the Australian Publishers Association, Sandy brings considerable experience in publishing to his role.
Fiona Hardie, BA Hons, LLB, MD Hardie Grant Magazines and Director Hardie Grant Publishing. Fiona has had a wide career in book and magazine publishing working in key roles for Pitman, Thomas Nelson and Penguin before becoming a founding staff member and Publisher for Text Media. She moved to London and assumed the role of Business Development Director for Premier Magazines (an Omnicom company) before becoming founding MD of Hardie Grant Magazines. Fiona is Vice President of AIER (Australian Institute of Employment Rights).
David Fitzsimons BMS (Hons) Non-Executive Director
David is a founding shareholder and director of AMI. From New Zealand he joined the Corporate Advisory Division of Hill Samuel in Australia in 1981. David became an Executive Director of listed investment company AFP Group Limited in 1986, and in the early 1990’s he moved to Europe to manage AFP’s investment in Gestetner plc. David is now based in London where he is involved with a range of private investments in industries including fund management, publishing and retail.