Peter Abeles
Encyclopedia
Sir Peter Emil Herbert Abeles, AC
(25 April 1924 – 25 June 1999) was an Australia
n transportation magnate. A refugee from Hungary
, he became one of the most powerful businessmen in Australia, and was knighted in 1972.
, in Austria
, but grew up in Budapest
. When Germany
invaded Hungary in 1944, Abeles, who was Jewish, was sent to a Nazi
work camp. In 1949 he fled the devastation left by World War II
, and moved to Australia. After doing small business by selling books and clothing, he quickly befriended George Rockey, a fellow Hungarian immigrant. The pair bought two trucks, which they named "Samson" and "Delilah"
, and set up a transport company, "Alltrans". In 1967, Alltrans merged with Thomas Nationwide Transport, and the combined companies became TNT Ltd.
. Under Abeles' guidance as managing director, TNT quickly expanded, and by the 1980s had established a presence in 180 countries and was termed "the second biggest transport empire in the world, operating by road, rail, sea and air".
In 1979 Abeles entered into an agreement with media mogul Rupert Murdoch
to take over Ansett Transport Industries. He served as chief executive and joint managing director from 1982 until 1992. In September 1992 he left TNT to concentrate his efforts on the ailing Ansett, but just two months later he stepped down from the airline as well.
Sir Peter occasionally cut a controversial figure with his unscrupulous business tactics, and was seen as unsympathetic towards minority shareholders. He was also caught up in the allegations of corruption directed at, then, Premier, Sir Robert Askin
, with journalist David Hickie accusing him of buying his 1972 knighthood from Askin, and giving Askin a seat at the board of TNT, plus 110,000 shares. He has been accused of being an associate of crime boss Abe Saffron
and of being involved in drug trafficking with the Nugan Hand Bank
. When alive, Abeles admitted to having common business interests with US West Coast Mafia boss Jimmy Fratianno, but that he did not know that Fratianno was Mafia connected.
As well being knighted, Abeles was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia
in 1991, and was named "Australian of the Year" by The Australian
in 1987. In addition to his work for TNT and Ansett, Abeles served on the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia
, and was chairman of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation
.
Abeles died in Sydney
at the age of 75, the victim of cancer
. He was survived by his second wife, Kitty, two daughters and a stepdaughter. (He was divorced from his first wife Claire Dan).
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(25 April 1924 – 25 June 1999) was an 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...
n transportation magnate. A refugee from Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, he became one of the most powerful businessmen in Australia, and was knighted in 1972.
Life
Abeles was born in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, but grew up in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
. When Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
invaded Hungary in 1944, Abeles, who was Jewish, was sent to a Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
work camp. In 1949 he fled the devastation left by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and moved to Australia. After doing small business by selling books and clothing, he quickly befriended George Rockey, a fellow Hungarian immigrant. The pair bought two trucks, which they named "Samson" and "Delilah"
Samson and Delilah (1949 film)
Samson and Delilah is a 1949 film made by Paramount Pictures , produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Victor Mature and Hedy Lamarr as the title characters...
, and set up a transport company, "Alltrans". In 1967, Alltrans merged with Thomas Nationwide Transport, and the combined companies became TNT Ltd.
TNT N.V.
TNT N.V., more commonly known as TNT, is an international express and mail delivery services company with headquarters in Hoofddorp, Netherlands. In the Netherlands, TNT operates the national postal service under the name TNT Post. The group also offers postal services in eight other European...
. Under Abeles' guidance as managing director, TNT quickly expanded, and by the 1980s had established a presence in 180 countries and was termed "the second biggest transport empire in the world, operating by road, rail, sea and air".
In 1979 Abeles entered into an agreement with media mogul Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
to take over Ansett Transport Industries. He served as chief executive and joint managing director from 1982 until 1992. In September 1992 he left TNT to concentrate his efforts on the ailing Ansett, but just two months later he stepped down from the airline as well.
Sir Peter occasionally cut a controversial figure with his unscrupulous business tactics, and was seen as unsympathetic towards minority shareholders. He was also caught up in the allegations of corruption directed at, then, Premier, Sir Robert Askin
Robert Askin
Sir Robert William Askin GCMG, was an Australian politician and the 32nd Premier of New South Wales from 1965 to 1975, the first representing the Liberal Party of Australia. He was born in 1907 as Robin William Askin, but always disliked his first name and changed it by deed poll in 1971...
, with journalist David Hickie accusing him of buying his 1972 knighthood from Askin, and giving Askin a seat at the board of TNT, plus 110,000 shares. He has been accused of being an associate of crime boss Abe Saffron
Abe Saffron
Abraham Gilbert "Abe" Saffron was an Australian nightclub owner and property developer who was reputed to have been one of the major figures in Australian organised crime in the latter half of the 20th century....
and of being involved in drug trafficking with the Nugan Hand Bank
Nugan Hand Bank
Nugan Hand Bank was an Australian merchant bank thatcollapsed in 1980 in sensational circumstances amidst rumours of involvement by the Central Intelligence Agency and organized crime.-Founding:...
. When alive, Abeles admitted to having common business interests with US West Coast Mafia boss Jimmy Fratianno, but that he did not know that Fratianno was Mafia connected.
As well being knighted, Abeles was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in 1991, and was named "Australian of the Year" by The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
in 1987. In addition to his work for TNT and Ansett, Abeles served on the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia
Reserve Bank of Australia
The Reserve Bank of Australia came into being on 14 January 1960 as Australia's central bank and banknote issuing authority, when the Reserve Bank Act 1959 removed the central banking functions from the Commonwealth Bank to it....
, and was chairman of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation
Australian Cancer Research Foundation
The Australian Cancer Research Foundation is an Australian not-for-profit organisation which awards grants to cancer research organisations, specifically for high-end equipment purchases and infrastructure development.-History and structure:...
.
Abeles died in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
at the age of 75, the victim of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. He was survived by his second wife, Kitty, two daughters and a stepdaughter. (He was divorced from his first wife Claire Dan).