John Spalvins
Encyclopedia
John Spalvins, born Janis Gunnars Spalvins, 1936, in Latvia
, was Managing Director of the Adelaide Steamship Company
from 1977 until the company's collapse in 1991. During this period under Spalvins' control, "AdSteam" became Australia
's major corporate entity with interests and significant holdings in retailing, food, wine, dairy, hardware, building, banks, and numerous other companies. "Spalvins built up one of Australia's largest industrial conglomerates, which took in David Jones
, Woolworths
, Metro Meat, food company Petersville Sleigh, beer and wine company Tooth & Co, as well as a tugboat business, before it was put into receivership in 1991."
In 1957, aged 21, he became company secretary of Camlec where he remained until 1973. During this period he studied economics in the evenings earning a degree from the University of Adelaide
.
, KB Lager, etc.), Petersville Sleigh, (Four’N Twenty pies, Bodalla cheese, Pura milk, Peters ice-cream, Birds Eye frozen foods, Nanna’s frozen apple pies, etc.), Farmers Union
, Metro Meat, AWA
, John Martins, Pioneer Property Group, and Industrial Equity (Woolworths
).
For many years, Spalvins and his second wife Gale divided their time between "Kintyre", their home in Springfield, South Australia
, their villa on Hamilton Island, and their units in the United States. They continue to spend at least three months each year in the United States at their home in Sun Valley, Idaho
, where he indulges his pasion for skiing. He remains an active investor through his company Galufo Pty Ltd, and is prominent for his role in advocating the obligation of company boards to provide value for their smaller shareholders.
After Cecily's unexpected death from a rare blood disease, Spalvins subsequently married Gale.
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, was Managing Director of the Adelaide Steamship Company
Adelaide Steamship Company
The Adelaide Steamship Company was formed by a group of South Australian businessmen in 1875. Their aim was to control the transport of goods between Adelaide and Melbourne and profit from the need for an efficient and comfortable passenger service...
from 1977 until the company's collapse in 1991. During this period under Spalvins' control, "AdSteam" became Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's major corporate entity with interests and significant holdings in retailing, food, wine, dairy, hardware, building, banks, and numerous other companies. "Spalvins built up one of Australia's largest industrial conglomerates, which took in David Jones
David Jones Limited
David Jones Limited , colloquially known as DJs, is a high-end Australian department store chain.David Jones was founded in 1838 by David Jones, a Welsh immigrant, and is claimed to be the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name. It...
, Woolworths
Woolworths Limited
Woolworths Limited is a major Australian company with extensive retail interest throughout Australia and New Zealand. It is the:* largest retail company in Australia and New Zealand by market capitalisation and sales...
, Metro Meat, food company Petersville Sleigh, beer and wine company Tooth & Co, as well as a tugboat business, before it was put into receivership in 1991."
Early career
Spalvins was born in Latvia in 1938. In 1940 Latvia became the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic under Soviet control. 13 year old Spalvins was brought to Australia by his mother in 1949.In 1957, aged 21, he became company secretary of Camlec where he remained until 1973. During this period he studied economics in the evenings earning a degree from the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
.
The Adelaide Steamship Company
In 1973, Adelaide Steamship's then managing director (and later chairman) Ken Russell head-hunted Spalvins to aid in revitalising the company. In 1977 Spalvins was appointed managing director, and in 1980 Spalvins and Russell commenced their acquisition and control of David Jones, followed through the 1980s by acquisition of numerous Australian "household names" including, but by no means limited to, Tooth & Co, (PenfoldsPenfolds
Penfolds is an Australian wine producer, founded in 1844 by Christopher Rawson Penfold, an English physician who emigrated to Australia, and his wife, Mary Penfold...
, KB Lager, etc.), Petersville Sleigh, (Four’N Twenty pies, Bodalla cheese, Pura milk, Peters ice-cream, Birds Eye frozen foods, Nanna’s frozen apple pies, etc.), Farmers Union
Farmers Union
Farmers Union is a brand name established by the South Australian Farmers' Co-operative Union Ltd .-Jamestown:At a meeting in Jamestown, South Australia on 28 February 1888, a committee formed to establish a grain "producers' union to combat the effects of depressed agricultural prices and the...
, Metro Meat, AWA
Amalgamated Wireless Australasia Limited
Amalgamated Wireless Ltd . Throughout most of the 20th century AWA was Australia's largest and most prominent electronics organisation, undertaking development, manufacture and distribution of radio, telecommunications, television and audio equipment as well as broadcasting services.After the...
, John Martins, Pioneer Property Group, and Industrial Equity (Woolworths
Woolworths Limited
Woolworths Limited is a major Australian company with extensive retail interest throughout Australia and New Zealand. It is the:* largest retail company in Australia and New Zealand by market capitalisation and sales...
).
Retirement
Following the collapse of the AdSteam share price, in March 1991 it was announced that Spalvins "would be terminated as an Adsteam employee". He departed on 5 July 1991.For many years, Spalvins and his second wife Gale divided their time between "Kintyre", their home in Springfield, South Australia
Springfield, South Australia
Springfield is an outer suburb of the South Australian capital city of Adelaide. It is located in the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges; around south-east of Adelaide's Central Business District. For the most part; the suburb is encompassed on a sloped portion of the Mounty Lofty Ranges,...
, their villa on Hamilton Island, and their units in the United States. They continue to spend at least three months each year in the United States at their home in Sun Valley, Idaho
Sun Valley, Idaho
Sun Valley is a resort city in Blaine County in the central part of the U.S. state of Idaho, adjacent to the city of Ketchum, lying within the greater Wood River valley. Tourists from around the world enjoy its skiing, hiking, ice skating, trail riding, tennis, and cycling. The population was 1,427...
, where he indulges his pasion for skiing. He remains an active investor through his company Galufo Pty Ltd, and is prominent for his role in advocating the obligation of company boards to provide value for their smaller shareholders.
Family
In 1962, Spalvins married Cecily Westall Rymill (b.1939, d.14 April 1991). They had two sons: John Rymill Spalvins, a stockbroker and Richard, a restauranteur.After Cecily's unexpected death from a rare blood disease, Spalvins subsequently married Gale.
External links
- Links to copyright photos:
- John Spalvins: March 2011 (source), July 2011 (source)
- Richard Spalvins: October 2009 (source) April 2010 (source)
