Sir James Fletcher | |
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| Born | (1914-12-25)25 December 1914 Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Died | 29 August 2007(2007-08-29) (aged 92) Auckland, New Zealand |
| Occupation(s) | Managing Director Fletcher Holdings 1942–1979 Chairman of Fletcher Holdings from 1979 to 1981 President and director of theFletcher Challenge 1981–1990. |
| Spouse | Vaughan Gunthorp |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | James Fletcher (father) Hugh Fletcher (son) Sian Elias (daughter-in-law) Andrew Cameron (great-uncle) |
Sir James Muir Cameron FletcherONZ (25 December 1914 – 29 August 2007),[1] often known asJim orJC[2]Junior, was a New Zealandindustrialist known for headingFletcher Construction, one of the country's largest firms. His father, alsoSir James Fletcher, founded the company in 1908.
Fletcher was born inDunedin, New Zealand, on Christmas Day 1914. He was James Senior's second son. In 1942, the year Fletcher Jnr became head of Fletcher Holdings, he married his office assistant, Margery Vaughan Gunthorp (born 9 February 1912 atBalclutha).[3] She was treasurer of the Mental Health Foundation, and was appointed a Member of theOrder of the British Empire in the1988 Queen's Birthday Honours.
James and Vaughan Fletcher had three children: Jim, Angus, andHugh Fletcher. Their eldest son Jim was killed by an intruder at hisBay of Plentybach (holiday home) on New Year's Eve 1993. Angus marriedChristine Fletcher, former Minister of the Crown andMayor of Auckland, and Hugh was the chief executive of Fletcher Challenge between 1987 and 1997.[4]
_Fletcher_Junior_(78401).jpg)
In 1937, Fletcher joined his father's construction business. Following the election of theFirst Labour Government in 1935, Fletcher senior established an enduring friendship with the government, leading to Fletchers' building some of the first state houses in New Zealand.[2] When Fletcher senior was seconded by the government in 1942, his son took over the running of Fletcher Holdings.[2] At the time he was just 27 years old.[5] Among his achievements was the forestry joint venture with theHolland National Government in the 1950s to build theTasman Pulp and Paper Company mill atKawerau. He was chairman of Fletcher Holdings from 1972 to 1981 and was president of the newFletcher Challenge conglomerate from 1981.[2][5] He resigned as a director of the company in 1990.
In the1980 New Year Honours, Fletcher was appointed aKnight Bachelor, for services to industry and the community.[6] In the1997 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed aMember of the Order of New Zealand, the country's highest civilian honour.[7] Also in 1997, Fletcher was inducted into theNew Zealand Business Hall of Fame.[8]
In the1988 Queen's Birthday Honours, Fletcher's wife, Vaughan, Lady Fletcher, was appointed a Member of theOrder of the British Empire, for services to the community.[9]
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