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Obituary

Casella co-founder and matriarch dies, aged 87

August 13, 2014

Maria Casella, co-founder of one of Australia’s most successful winemaking family businesses, has died in Brisbane at the age of 87.

Maria Casella, co-founder of one of Australia’s most successful winemaking family businesses, has died in Brisbane at the age of 87.

The Sicilian-born entrepreneur co-founded Casella Wines with her husband Filippo in 1957, after leaving post-war Italy for a better life in Australia. Today the company posts revenues in excess of AU$346 million (€241 million).

Patriarch of Kanoo empire dies, aged 72

August 5, 2014

Bahraini businessman Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo, chairman of family conglomerate Kanoo Group in the United Arab Emirates and Oman, has died, aged 72.

Bahraini businessman Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo, chairman of family conglomerate Kanoo Group in the United Arab Emirates and Oman, has died, aged 72.

Kanoo, who helped the company expand from its early shipping roots, died over the weekend, after a three-decade battle with diabetes.

Kanoo turned the company, established in 1890 by Haji Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo, into one of the largest family-owned businesses in the Gulf.

Today the group is focussed on retail, logistics, chemicals, shipping, oil and gas, and travel.

Aldi co-founder, Karl Albrecht, dies aged 94

July 22, 2014

The reclusive co-founder of the Aldi discount supermarket chain, Karl Albrecht, has died in his hometown of Essen, Germany, aged 94.

The reclusive co-founder of the Aldi discount supermarket chain, Karl Albrecht, has died in his hometown of Essen, Germany, aged 94.

Albrect passed away almost a week ago but the company only confirmed his death yesterday, after his funeral took place.

Odebrecht founder dies in Brazil, aged 93

July 21, 2014

Norberto Odebrecht, the man who turned his father’s small engineering firm into a construction empire, has died at the age of 93 in his hometown of Salvador, Brazil.

Norberto Odebrecht, the man who turned his father’s small engineering firm into a construction empire, has died at the age of 93 in his hometown of Salvador, Brazil.

The grandson of German immigrants, his eponymous family business Grupo Odebrecht is today Latin America’s largest engineering group, with revenues of R$96.9 billion (€32.2 billion) and operations in 23 countries across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, as well as the Americas.

Steelcase heir and philanthropist dies, aged 94

July 9, 2014

Peter Wege, a significant donor to environmental causes and the former second-gen vice chairman of furniture family business Steelcase, has died in Michigan, US, aged 94.

Peter Wege, a significant donor to environmental causes and the former second-gen vice chairman of furniture family business Steelcase, has died in Michigan, US, aged 94.

Founded in 1912 by Wege’s father, Peter Martin Wege, Steelcase is the world’s largest office furniture manufacturer, reporting revenues of $2.9 billion last year.

Banco Safra co-founder Moise Safra dies, aged 79

June 16, 2014

Brazilian banker Moise Safra, who founded Safra Group with his brothers in the 1950s, has died in Sao Paulo aged 79.

Brazilian banker Moise Safra, who founded Safra Group with his brothers in the 1950s, has died in Sao Paulo aged 79.

The billionaire, who is estimated to be worth approximately $2.2 billion (€1.6 billion), along with his family was ranked the second wealthiest in the Latin American country, according to Forbes, with a combined net worth of $20.1 billion.

Canadian businessman George T Richardson dies

May 16, 2014

Canadian businessman George T Richardson, who served at the helm of his family business for 34 years, has died, aged 89.

Canadian businessman George T Richardson, who served at the helm of his family business for 34 years, has died, aged 89.

James Richardson & Sons, established by Richardson’s great-grandfather in 1857, is 100% family owned and operates in the grain trade, as well as energy, real estate, financial services and investments. The company does not release revenues, but this year Canadian Business pegged the wealth of the Richardson family at $4.5 billion (€3 billion).

Cemex fourth-gen Lorenzo Zambrano dies suddenly in Spain

May 13, 2014

Lorenzo Zambrano, the Mexican businessman who turned his family’s cement manufacturer into a multinational company, has died suddenly at the age of 70 in Spain.

Lorenzo Zambrano, the Mexican businessman who turned his family’s cement manufacturer into a multinational company, has died suddenly at the age of 70 in Spain.

According to local media, the fourth-generation chairman and chief executive of Cemex was found by members of staff at his Madrid hotel, after he failed to turn up for a business meeting.

He was not known to be in poor health.

Grandson of Henry Ford dies, aged 88

March 10, 2014

The last surviving grandchild of Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford has died, ending the US family business’s direct link with the famous industrialist who pioneered automobile assembly line manufacture, which made owning a car a possibility for millions of people around the world.

William Clay Ford, who was less than a week shy of his 89th birthday, died of pneumonia on 9 March, the Ford Motor Company said.

Pioneering watchmaker Raymond Weil dies

January 29, 2014

Swiss watchmaker Raymond Weil, who founded the family business that bears his name, has died in Geneva, aged 87.

He had established the luxury brand in 1976, when the Swiss watchmaking industry was in disarray due to the so-called “Quartz crisis”.

Swiss watchmaker Raymond Weil, who founded the family business that bears his name, has died in Geneva, aged 87.

Weil founded the luxury brand in 1976, when the Swiss watchmaking industry was in disarray due to the so-called “Quartz crisis” – during which electronic watchmaking methods resulted in a decline in traditional mechanical timepieces, which had been the speciality of Swiss craftsmen.