{{Short description|British industrialist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}} {{Infobox person | name = Sir John Zochonis | image = John Zochonis.jpg | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = John Basil Zochonis | birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1929|10|2}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2013|11|30|1929|10|2}} | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | education = | alma_mater = Corpus Christi College, Oxford | occupation = industrialist | title = chairman of PZ Cussons | term = | predecessor = | successor = | known_for = | boards = | networth = | spouse = Brigid Demetriades (née Smyth) | children = | parents = Constantine Zochonis | relatives = George Zochonis (great uncle) | website = }}
'''Sir John Basil Zochonis''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|DL}} (2 October 1929 – 30 November 2013) was a British industrialist and philanthropist, the chairman of PZ Cussons, and the great nephew of its founder, George Zochonis.<ref name="telegraph1">{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10518647/Sir-John-Zochonis-obituary.html |title=Sir John Zochonis - obituary |publisher=Telegraph |date=15 December 2013 |accessdate=12 May 2017}}</ref>
==Early life== John Zochonis was born in Cheshire. He attended Rugby School<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/commemorations/sir-john-zochonis/|title=Sir John Zochonis, Philanthropist|work=Westminster Abbey|accessdate=7 March 2025}}</ref> and studied at Corpus Christi College, Oxford.<ref name="manchestereveningnews1">{{cite web|author=Manchester Evening News |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/sir-john-zochonis-1029395 |title=Sir John Zochonis |publisher=Manchester Evening News |date= 15 February 2007|accessdate=12 May 2017}}</ref>
==Career== He joined PZ Cussons in 1953.<ref name="manchestereveningnews1"/>
==Philanthropy== He was well known for his charity, and has been called "possibly the largest giver in the North West".<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://artsandbusiness.bitc.org.uk/awards-ab/prince-of-wales-medal-for-arts-philanthropy/2009/john-zochonis |title=2009 Honouree: Sir John Zochonis | Arts & Business |publisher=Artsandbusiness.bitc.org.uk |date= |accessdate=12 May 2017}}</ref> He gave to, inter alia, Chethams School of Music, the Clonter Opera, the Buxton Festival, the Manchester International Festival, Manchester Art Gallery, the Lowry Centre, Manchester Midday Concerts Society, Royal Exchange Theatre and the Northern Chamber Orchestra.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>
==Personal life== In 1990, he married Brigid Demetriades (née Smyth).<ref name="telegraph1"/> Lady Zochonis died on 12 February 2026, aged 87.<ref>[https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/births-marriages-and-deaths-february-21-2026-kt56kmdq5 Lady Brigid Mary Evanson Zochonis (née Smyth)] The Times</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-hon}} {{succession box | before= | title=High Sheriff of Greater Manchester | years=1994–5 | after= Edmund Gartside }} {{s-end}} {{Greater Manchester|state=collapsed}} {{Portal bar|United Kingdom|Biography|Greater Manchester}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zochonis, John}} Category:1929 births Category:2013 deaths Category:People educated at Rugby School Category:Alumni of Corpus Christi College, Oxford Category:Businesspeople from Cheshire Category:Businesspeople from Greater Manchester Category:Deputy lieutenants of Greater Manchester Category:English people of Greek descent Category:Knights Bachelor John Category:20th-century British philanthropists
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