Tony Murray (businessman)

Jacques Gaston Murray (born Gaston Jacques Kalifa; 8 February 1920) is a French-born British billionaire businessman.[1]

Tony Murray
Born
Gaston Jacques Kalifa

(1920-02-08) 8 February 1920
Paris, France
NationalityBritish
OccupationBusinessman
TitleChairman, London Security plc
Chairman, Andrew Sykes Group plc
Children2

Murray and his family own Andrew Sykes Group, the heating and air-conditioning equipment hire company, and London Security, the Leeds-based fire protection business which includes the Nu-Swift fire extinguisher brand.[2]

According to according to The Sunday Times Rich List 2022.[3] his net worth is estimated at £2.53 billion. He turned 100 in February 2020.[4]

Early life

Tony Murray was born in Paris, France on 8 February 1920 and was originally named Gaston Jacques Kalifa. His father ran a construction company that worked on infrastructure projects such as bridges.[5] He was accepted to study architecture at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris before the outbreak of World War II.[5] He escaped from Paris at the time of the German invasion of France and reached Biarritz where he boarded a Polish ship which took him to England. He enlisted in the Free French forces and eventually transferred to the Royal Air Force (RAF). He flew 38 missions as a navigator in No. 613 Squadron RAF.[6][5] He received British citizenship after the war.[7]

His father was murdered in Auschwitz. He was awarded the Legion of Honour by the French government.[8]

Career

In 1982, Murray bought Nu-Swift, a Leeds manufacturer of fire extinguishers then in difficulties, with the businessman Michael Ashcroft. Murray later "became irritated" by Ashcroft getting too much of the credit for turning round the company.[9]

Personal life

His sons, Jean-Jacques Murray and Jean‑Pierre Murray are both directors of London Security, the latter being non-executive.[10]

References
  1. "Un Français Libre parmi 51809". francaislibres (in French). Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  2. "New billionaire on Yorkshire Rich List | Insider Media Ltd". Insider Media. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  3. "The Sunday Times Rich List 2022". The Times. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  4. Stockwatch: Keep backing this 100-year-old chairman
  5. Wood, Martin (24 August 1998). "Murray's made mint without meaning to; French war hero turned international takeover tycoon really wanted a farm". The Birmingham Post. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  6. "Rich List 2015: No.3 - Jacques Gaston Murray & family". The Birmingham Post. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  7. Zhuravlyova, Sonia (11 May 2020). "He escaped Nazi-occupied Paris, flew for RAF - and is on the Rich List aged 100". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  8. "Birmingham Post Rich List 2014: No.4 - Jacques Gaston Murray and family (£850m)". The Birmingham Post. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  9. "Movers and shakers among the contacts and business buddies". The Guardian. 17 July 1999. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  10. "London Security PLC". Retrieved 9 September 2016.
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