Charles V. Parsons: 56
January 23, 2002
The passing of Charles V. Parsons in December 2001 is a loss to the entire textile industry. Charles was well loved and respected by his many colleagues, customers, partners and competitors. Such respect is evidenced by the fact that one of the Charles Parsons Group's suppliers, Kohinoor Textile Mills in Pakistan, observed a two-minute silence on the day of his memorial service.
While Charles will be greatly missed, his passing will have minimal bearing on the operations of the Charles Parsons Group. One of Charles' greatest legacies is the leadership team that he established. He believed in fostering talent, challenging existing standards and rewarding effort. Under the leadership team, the Charles Parsons Group has become a multi-national group of companies with extensive interests in New Zealand, Hong Kong and China. The Group has strategic alliances with many of the worlds' leading textile companies and employs over 1,200 people around the world. Most of the existing team have been with the group for a significant period and have helped oversee a twenty-five fold increase in turnover over the last two decades.
The new non-executive chairman is John Robinson, previously involved with several successful technology companies that operated internationally. He was a close friend of Charles. The new group managing director is Michael Davis. He has over 40 years experience with the Parsons Group of companies and operated alongside Charles V. Parsons for the majority of this time.
Charles V. Parsons was the grandson of Charles Parsons, founder of the Charles Parsons Group. He was with the Charles Parsons Group most of his working life, becoming Chairman in 1973. He was passionate about his companies, the people he worked with and the products they turned out. He always operated "in the best interests of customers, employees, suppliers and shareholders."
Charles was a strong advocate for the industry he was brought up in and which he loved so much. As president of the Textile Distributors Association and a committee member of the Textile and Fashion Industries Council of Australia, he was at the forefront of change and innovation within the industry over the last three decades.
The connection with the Parsons family will continue. Charles V's son, also Charles, will join the company in the near future having recently completed his CPA.
The board, management team and all employees of the Charles Parsons Group express their sincerest condolences to the Parsons family on the loss of Charles. He died on 29 December 2001 from a brain tumor that had been detected 20 months earlier. He was 56 years old.
While Charles will be greatly missed, his passing will have minimal bearing on the operations of the Charles Parsons Group. One of Charles' greatest legacies is the leadership team that he established. He believed in fostering talent, challenging existing standards and rewarding effort. Under the leadership team, the Charles Parsons Group has become a multi-national group of companies with extensive interests in New Zealand, Hong Kong and China. The Group has strategic alliances with many of the worlds' leading textile companies and employs over 1,200 people around the world. Most of the existing team have been with the group for a significant period and have helped oversee a twenty-five fold increase in turnover over the last two decades.
The new non-executive chairman is John Robinson, previously involved with several successful technology companies that operated internationally. He was a close friend of Charles. The new group managing director is Michael Davis. He has over 40 years experience with the Parsons Group of companies and operated alongside Charles V. Parsons for the majority of this time.
Charles V. Parsons was the grandson of Charles Parsons, founder of the Charles Parsons Group. He was with the Charles Parsons Group most of his working life, becoming Chairman in 1973. He was passionate about his companies, the people he worked with and the products they turned out. He always operated "in the best interests of customers, employees, suppliers and shareholders."
Charles was a strong advocate for the industry he was brought up in and which he loved so much. As president of the Textile Distributors Association and a committee member of the Textile and Fashion Industries Council of Australia, he was at the forefront of change and innovation within the industry over the last three decades.
The connection with the Parsons family will continue. Charles V's son, also Charles, will join the company in the near future having recently completed his CPA.
The board, management team and all employees of the Charles Parsons Group express their sincerest condolences to the Parsons family on the loss of Charles. He died on 29 December 2001 from a brain tumor that had been detected 20 months earlier. He was 56 years old.
