Highly influential but reclusive business leader John Todd has been knighted just weeks after his retirement from the helm of the multi-faceted Todd Corporation.
Sir John (84), has been made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business.
He is one of the country's top philanthropists as well as a leading patron of the arts, and is staying on as chairman of his famously private family's charitable Todd Foundation.
Sir John retired on December 6 after 24 years of chairing its non-listed business empire, and has been succeeded by professional director Geoff Ricketts from outside the bloodline of Scottish immigrant Charles Todd, who founded the family firm in 1885.
From a Central Otago fellmongery and wool-scouring plant, the business has evolved into a $2.6 billion-plus conglomerate with major energy interests as well as investments in broadcasting, telecommunication, land retirement homes and information technology.
Its 160 or so beneficiaries are all direct descendants of Charles Todd, who was Sir John's great-grandfather.
Sir John joined the business through Todd Motors in 1948 at its former Petone car assembly plant, and became managing director in 1968.
As well as looking after the family's interests, he has served on the boards of high-profile companies, as well as Westpac's New Zealand advisory panel, and the Overseas Investment Commission.
