Brian Thorley Loton AC (1929–2022) was chairman of BHP from 1992 to 1997. Born in Perth, Loton was the great-grandson of businessman and politician Sir William Thorley Loton, who emigrated to Western Australia in the 1860s and subsequently played a substantial role in the colony’s agricultural development. Brian Loton grew up at Belvoir, a family estate in the Swan Valley, and was educated at the University of Melbourne. After working at the Whyalla shipyards and at Iron Knob during student vacations, he joined BHP in as a general cadet in 1954. He soon became a special cadet, and within ten years of joining the company had risen to the position of Executive Officer, Engineering. He became general manager of the Newcastle steelworks in 1970, executive general manager of the steel division in 1973, chief general manager of the company from 1977 to 1982 and its managing director from 1982 to 1991. He has also held directorships of the National Australia bank, Amcor, Australian Foundation Investment Company, Atlas Copco and North West Shelf Development. President of the Victorian Scouts Association from 1997 to 1999, Loton was a member of a host of professional and fundraising organisations, and won a number of business, mining and metallurgy awards in Australia and overseas. He was named a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1989 and was the holder of an honorary doctorate from Monash University.
Gift of the artist 2001
© Estate of Joe Greenberg
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