{{Short description|Australian businessman}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}} '''Robert James Champion de Crespigny''', AC (born 1950) is a multi-millionaire Australian businessman and founder of Normandy Mining. Currently{{when|date=January 2026}} estimated with his ownership in PBE and Rutherford corporations his net worth is near{{vague|date=January 2026}} AUD$1bn.{{cn|date=January 2026}} In 2004 his personal wealth was approximately AUS$170 million.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/pdf/richlist.pdf |title=Wealth Index |date=2004-05-19 |access-date=2015-02-12 |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041103025007/https://www.smh.com.au/pdf/richlist.pdf |archive-date=3 November 2004 |url-status=dead }}</ref> His positions in corporate and public life include chancellor of the University of Adelaide (2000&ndash;2004) and chair of the South Australian Economic Development Board (2002&ndash;2006) and a role on the South Australian Minerals & Petroleum Expert Group (SAMPEG) for the Department of State Development. He resides in the United Kingdom.<ref name="ctf1" />

==Career== Champion de Crespigny was educated at Melbourne Grammar School and the University of Melbourne, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. During his university studies, he was resident at Trinity College. He subsequently qualified as a Chartered Accountant and practised for 13 years with KMG Hungerford in Perth, Western Australia. He was a partner at the firm for 10 years.<ref name="pirsa1" />

===Mining=== In October 1985, he left the accounting profession and formed Normandy Mining.<ref name="ctf1">{{cite web|url=http://www.ctfinancial.com.au/People_Board.htm|title=Our Board|publisher=CT Financial|accessdate=2009-04-03}}</ref> He remained its executive chairman through its 17 years of activity. In 1988, Champion de Crespigny and his family moved to Adelaide, South Australia when it took control of Poseidon Limited. Normandy was taken over by Newmont in 2002 but he and his family remained in Adelaide.<ref name="pirsa1">{{cite web|url=http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/minerals/pace/theme_8_south_australian_minerals_and_petroleum_expert_group_sampeg/mr_robert_champion_de_crespigny_ac|title=Mr Robert Champion de Crespigny AC|publisher=Department of Primary Industries and Resources South Australia|accessdate=2009-04-03}}</ref><ref name="age1">{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/old-miners-never-die/2005/06/22/1119321791129.html|title=Old miners never die|last=FitzGerald|first=Barry|date=23 June 2005|publisher=The Age|accessdate=2009-04-03}}</ref>

In early 1999, Normandy made an offer for Great Central Mines, a company led by the ordained Rabbi Joseph Gutnick,<ref name=Joe >[http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/business/items/200611/s1798732.htm Minerals boom leads to Bronzewing revival] ''Australian Broadcasting Corporation'', broadcast: 27 November 2006, accessed: 15 December 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/business/chairman-argus-has-a-little-bet-each-way-20080207-1qv9.html Chairman Argus has a little bet each way] ''The Age'', published: 8 February 2008, accessed: 11 February 2010</ref> through Yandal Gold, a company it owned a 49.9% interest in.<ref>[http://www.asx.com.au/asx/statistics/displayAnnouncement.do?display=text&issuerId=3211&announcementId=673815 Notice re: Takeover Offer for Great Central Mines] Normandy ASX announcement, published: 11 January 1999, accessed: 11 February 2010</ref> This offer came under investigation from the Australian Securities & Investments Commission, which demanded a termination of the offer on 23 March 1999.<ref>[http://www.asx.com.au/asx/statistics/displayAnnouncement.do?display=text&issuerId=3211&announcementId=673815 Yandal Gold Part A T/O Offer for GCM - ASIC Investigation] Normandy ASX announcement, published: 23 March 1999, accessed: 11 February 2010</ref> Gutnick and Crespigny were found to have illegally structured a takeover of the company and Gutnick was ordered to return $28.5 million to investors.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.brw.com.au/p/lists/rich-200/2013/joseph_gutnick_on_diamonds_business_KrQfh1FMaQI2OZ59ULFdIM|title = BRW Rich 200: Joseph Gutnick on diamonds, business and God|last = Khadem|first = Nassim|date = 2013-05-23|access-date = 2015-02-12|newspaper =Australian Financial Review}}</ref> The court found that their behaviour in jointly bidding $450 million earlier that year for Great Central Mines was unlawful and deceptive. Both Gutnick and Crespigny had shareholdings in GMC before this bid was launched, and they agreed together to form the Yandal Gold company. The court found however, that it was only Gutnick who received any benefit and it was therefore him who had to pay the $28.5 million.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/stories/s29555.htm ''Miners found to have illegally restructured company'', ABC radio, 16 June 1999] accessed: 12 February 2010</ref>

The deal nevertheless went ahead and brought the Bronzewing, Jundee and Wiluna Gold Mines to the company.

In September 2001, at the start of the AngloGold - Newmont takeover war for Normandy, Champion de Crespigny warned that Australia could lose control of more gold assets because of a lack of support from local institutional investors. He argued for the support of Western Mining, should his own company fall to foreign investment.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/am/stories/s359580.htm Anglo Gold set to take over Normandy Mining] ''Radio National'', published: 6 September 2001, accessed: 14 February 2010</ref>

Champion de Crespigny sits on a number of company boards, including serving as chairman of market research firm C|T Group.<ref name="ctf1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crosbytextor.com/About_Who.htm |title=Crosby&#124;Textor - strategic advice, market research and counsel|website=C|T Group|accessdate=2006-12-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829081118/http://www.crosbytextor.com/About_Who.htm |archivedate=29 August 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ctfinancial.com.au/About_Group.htm |title=C&#124;T Financial - Communications and Campaigns |accessdate=2006-12-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070123115538/http://www.ctfinancial.com.au/About_Group.htm |archivedate=23 January 2007}}</ref> In February 2010, Barclays Capital announced that de Crespigny had joined the advisory panel of its natural resource investment business.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Robert J. Champion de Crespigny AC joins advisory panel of Barclays Capital's Natural Resource Investments business|date=19 February 2010|publisher=Barclays Capital|url=http://www.barcap.com/About+Barclays+Capital/Press+Office/News+releases/News,1527,Robert+J.+Champion+de+Crespigny+AC+joins+advisory+panel+of+Barclays+Capital%E2%80%99s+Natural+Resource+Investments+business|accessdate=2010-02-28}}</ref>

Champion de Crespigny has furthered the interests of the resources sector through his membership of various associations. These include the Australian Gold Council (chairman), the World Gold Council, the Minerals Council of Australia and the Business Council of Australia.<ref name="abc2" /> At the invitation of Premier Mike Rann of South Australia, he chaired the South Australian Economic Development Board from 2002 until 2006.<ref name="abc1">{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/business/2002/12/item20021228091738_1.htm|title=Champion de Crespigny SA's top citizen|date=29 December 2002|work=ABC Online|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2009-04-03}}</ref> He also served on the executive committee of Cabinet of the Government of South Australia. As of 2014, de Crespigny continues to serve on the South Australian Minerals & Petroleum Expert Group (SAMPEG) for the Department of State Development which provides advice to the Government of South Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/minerals/initiatives/pace2020/SAMPEG/sampeg_members#crespigny|title=About the SAMPEG Members|website=Department of State Development|publisher=Government of South Australia|accessdate=2014-09-15}}</ref>

===Other associations=== His membership of arts and cultural associations include the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, the National Gallery of Australia Council, the Commonwealth Expert Group on Democracy and Development and the South Australian Museum.<ref name="abc2">{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/stories/s131629.htm|title=Crucial test for reconciliation process|date=26 May 2000|work=7.30 Report|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2009-04-03}}</ref> De Crespigny was the chair of the board of the South Australian Museum from 1992 to 2002.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/Upload/files-about/annual-report-2002-03.pdf|title=ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM BOARD 2002-2003|publisher=South Australian Museum|year=2003|location=Adelaide, South Australia|page=2}}</ref> Champion de Crespigny was the thirteenth chancellor of the University of Adelaide from 1 June 2000 until 26 July 2004.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.adelaide.edu.au/news/news821.html |publisher=University of Adelaide |accessdate=2006-07-01 |date=3 June 2004 |title=Robert Champion de Crespigny AC to hand over Chancellor reins}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=Hon John von Doussa QC named new Chancellor |accessdate=2006-07-18 |date=26 July 2004 |publisher=University of Adelaide |url=http://www.adelaide.edu.au/news/news1381.html}}</ref> In January 2014, de Crespigny was announced as Patron of 'Believe – The Campaign for the University of Melbourne.'<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.campaign.unimelb.edu.au/news-and-events/2014-01-29-robert-champion-de-crespigny-becomes-campaign-patron|title = Robert Champion de Crespigny becomes Campaign Patron|date = 2014-01-19|accessdate = 2014-09-15|publisher = University of Melbourne}}</ref>

==Honours== In 2002, Champion de Crespigny was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia for his service to the mining industry, to business and to the community in the areas of cultural preservation and education. He was also in the same year awarded the South Australian Director of the Year by the Australian Institute of Company Directors and South Australian of the Year for 2002 by SA Great.<ref name="abc1"/> He was honoured by having the mineral Decrespignyite-(Y) named after him in 2002, for his contributions to Australian education, the South Australian Museum and in the Australian mining industry.<ref>{{Cite journal|title = K. Wallwork, U. Kolitsch, A. Pring and L. Nasdala (2002), Decrespignyite-(Y), a new copper yttrium rare earth carbonate chloride hydrate from Paratoo, South Australia|date = 9 October 2015|journal = Mineralogical Magazine |volume=66 |pages=181–188|doi = 10.1180/0026461026610021| s2cid=4820053 }}</ref> In 1993 he was awarded Australian Businessman of the Year.

==Family== His cousin is pilot Richard de Crespigny.<ref name="Richard">{{cite book |last1=De Crespigny |first1=Richard |title=Fly! – the Elements of Resilience |date=2018 |publisher=Viking, an imprint of Penguin Books|location=[Camberwell, Victoria] |isbn=978-0670078738 |chapter=Chapter 7}}</ref>

==See also== * French Australian * Crespigny

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== *[http://www2.agsm.edu.au/agsm/web.nsf/ContentPageDesignPreview/234213AAC7F66C4ECA256E900013B5F8?OpenDocument&PreviewStyle=BAC46689DEBFE8B34A256E76000BAB3F/ AGSM2006 - Robert Champion de Crespigny] *[http://www.icaa.org.au/news/index.cfm?menu=304&id=A106309443/ Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia - Robert Champion de Crespigny] *[http://www.adelaidereview.com.au/archives/2004_12_10/issuesandopinion_story3.shtml/ The Adelaide Review - Robert Champion de Crespigny] *[http://www.ctfinancial.com.au/People_Board.htm C|T Financial's Board - Robert Champion de Crespigny]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Champion De Crespigny, Robert}} Category:1950 births Category:Living people Category:Businesspeople from Adelaide Category:People educated at Trinity College (University of Melbourne) Category:Companions of the Order of Australia Category:Australian accountants Category:Chancellors of the University of Adelaide Category:Fellows of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering Category:Australian businesspeople in mining