Emmanuel Kaye
Honorific prefixSir
Honorific suffixCBE
Birth nameEmmanuel Kagarlitzky
Birth dateNovember 29, 1914
Birth placeRussia
Death dateFebruary 28, 1999 (aged 84)
OccupationIndustrialist, philanthropist
Known forLeadership of Lansing Bagnall; founding the Kaye Organisation
SpouseLady Elizabeth Kaye
AwardsCommander of the Order of the British Empire (1967); Knight Bachelor (1974)

Sir Emmanuel Kaye (29 November 1914 – 28 February 1999) was a British industrialist and philanthropist associated with Lansing Bagnall, an electric forklift manufacturer, and with the Kaye Organisation. [1][2]

Early life and background

Kaye was born in Russia, the son of wheat merchant Zelman Kagarlisky (1877/1878–1926; his name was also spelled "Zalman Kagarlitzky") and his wife, Chassia Annie (1885/6–1943), a botanist. The family came to England when he was young, settling in London.[1] Emmanuel was educated at Richmond Hill School, leaving to work for a small engineering firm at the age of 15.[3][4] In 1934, his mother changed the family name to "Kaye".[5][6]

Career

In 1940, Kaye founded J. E. Shay Ltd., described as precision gauge tool and instrument makers.[1] In 1943, he took over Lansing Bagnall, a maker of electric forklift trucks and related equipment.[1][2]

Kaye later served as founder and chairman of the Kaye Organisation, described as a group with allied companies in Switzerland and Germany, and he chaired Lansing Bagnall and other associated companies.[1][2] A 1996 Independent report described him as a multi-millionaire, award-winning industrialist and a former leading figure in the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).[7]

He was a donor to Tony Blair's Labour Leader's Office Fund before the 1997 General Election.[8] Kaye was associated with[vague] the Labour Friends of Israel.[9][verification needed]

Philanthropy

The Emmanuel Kaye Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales (charity number 280281).[10]

Among major beneficiaries of his philanthropy was Emmanuel College, Cambridge, which made him an Honorary Member in 1994. He was Vice-Chairman (1981-85) and Chairman (1985–99) of the Thrombosis Research Trust.[citation needed]

Public roles

Kaye's public activities included involvement with the Confederation of British Industry and membership of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art.[1][2] He was also a trustee of the Glyndebourne Opera from 1979 to 1984.[1][2]

Personal life

In 1946, Kaye married Elizabeth, daughter of Mark Cutler; they had a son and two daughters.[11] He was appointed C.B.E. in 1967,[12] and Knight Bachelor in 1974.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Kaye, Sir Emmanuel". Encyclopaedia Judaica. Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  2. ^ "Sir Emmanuel Kaye (1914–1999)". Bern Schwartz. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  3. ^ "The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography". 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/72085
  4. ^ "Emmanuel Kaye - Graces Guide"
  5. ^ 24 November 1953, The London Gazette. Accessed 28 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Change of name: Emmanuel Kaye". The London Gazette. ' (40025): 6399. 24 November 1953. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  7. ^ Moyes, Jojo (18 November 1996). "Multi-millionaires who keep Blair in his office". The Independent. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  8. ^ Moyes, Jojo (1996-11-18). "Multi-millionaires who keep Blair in his office". The Independent. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  9. ^ Pierce, Andrew (18 November 1997). "Blair's chance to raise cash for Pounds 1m refund". The Times
  10. ^ "The Emmanuel Kaye Foundation (Charity number 280281)". Register of Charities. Charity Commission for England and Wales. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  11. ^ Kelly's Handbook to the Titled, Landed and Official Classes, Kelly's Directories, 1969, p. 1122
  12. ^ "Supplement to The London Gazette". The London Gazette. ' (44326): 6278. 10 June 1967. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  13. ^ "Supplement to The London Gazette". The London Gazette. ' (46354): 6794. 7 June 1974. Retrieved 26 December 2025.

Further reading