The man who was the main
driving force behind the
massive development of the
Grindrod Group from a
relatively small company into
the R32-billion shipping and
logistics major it is today was
Walter Murray Grindrod, who
was born on November 9, 1935
and died on May 16 aged 79.
Now, given this obvious
business success, what of
Murray Grindrod the man?
Looking for an answer to
this question, FTW talked to
one of the men who probably
knew Murray Grindrod best –
both in his business role and as
a close friend.
That was Ivan Clark, for
whom Murray Grindrod was
the mentor for his entire career
at Grindrod, even after Clark
eventually took over from him
as chairman of the business
group.
“I never had more respect for
someone for whom I worked
than Murray Grindrod,” Clark
said.
“That he was an outstanding
chairman is a given. And I
have to acknowledge that it
was the absolute support he
gave me when I was CEO of
Grindrod that was that driving
force behind Grindrod’s great
success.
“Before he made any
decision, he made sure he had
all the facts at his fingertips,
and this knowledge ensured
that he was always able to see
the complete picture,” Clark
added.
“He also had a great ability
to control a meeting, without
being obviously in the front
line. He listened more than he
talked, and allowed a very good
airing of every point put before
the board.”
Clark also pointed out that
Murray Grindrod’s honesty,
integrity and astuteness were
recognised by everyone with
whom he dealt, both in SA and
overseas.
“In our early days
Grindrod was a pretty small
operation, but everywhere we
went we were accepted as a
company far above our status
– purely because of Murray
Grindrod the man.”
Just how respected he was
as one of this country’s leading
businessmen can be seen by
the lengthy list of positions
he has held. Not only was he
was chairman of Grindrod
Limited, but also president
of the Durban Chamber of
Commerce and of the SA
Shipowners’ Association; nonexecutive
director of US-based
Sea Containers; Anglo Alpha;
Times Media; Grindrod
Bank; Sanlam; and Marriott
Holdings; and chairman of
RMBT Holdings.
His valuable contribution to
SA’s business community was
also internationally recognised
with tertiary education
honours from two universities
– an Honorary Doctorate of
Economics from University of
KwaZulu-Natal, and a similar
honorary degree from the
University of Cambridge, a
BA:Decon (HC).
On the social side of things,
Murray Grindrod was a keen
sportsman, and just one
indication of his sporting
abilities was
that he swung a
mean cleek as a
Springbok golfer.
And, although
his public
persona was
always one of a
quiet, reserved
and conservative
man, there was
a surprising
amount of
often rather
quirky humour
concealed behind
this façade,
Clark said.
“I travelled
with him around the world,
and he’d treat you like a son.
We always found him great
fun to travel with, and often
he’d take us to such unusual
places as the 21 Club in New
York – one of America’s most
famous speakeasies from the
Prohibition Era, and a place
where celebrities and captains
of industry have wined and
dined for more than 80 years.”
And behind this great man of
SA business was the support of
a gracious lady, his wife Pauli.
“She also used to write me
little notes,” he said, “and I
much appreciate her wonderful
encouragement.”
Murray Grindrod leaves
Pauli, their daughters Anne-
Marie and Josi, and Walter and
Murray Paul, his two sons, who
are now the fourth generation
of the family in the Grindrod
Group.
CAPTION
Walter Murray Grindrod
