Ian McLennan

Who was Ian McLennan?

Sir Ian Munro McLennan was a prominent Australian director of public companies, most notably as Chairman of Australia's largest company BHP.

McLennan was born in Stawell and had his early childhood at Mooroopna. He attended Scotch College, Melbourne as a border, where he was equal Dux of School in 1927. After leaving school studies electrical engineering at the University of Melbourne and was a resident at the University's Ormond College.

After graduating from university in 1932 he joined BHP as a cadet in its Whyalla works and at the nearby Iron Knob iron-ore mine. In April 1971 McLennan was appointed Chairman and Director of Administration of BHP, positions he held until 1977 when he reached the compulsory retirement age for BHP directors. Thus, in just less than forty years he had moved through the company ranks to its most senior position. During that time he had guided the company though a series of major changes including its move into pretroleum exploration and production in offshore Bass Strait.

His directorships and roles have included:

⁕Chairman of BHP

⁕Chairman of ANZ Bank

⁕Director of Imperial Chemical Industries Australia

⁕Chairman of Interscan Australia Limited