Eric McClintock

McClintock was born on 13 September 1918 in Gulgong, New South Wales, to Robert Emanuel McClintock (d. 1979),[1] a newspaper proprietor and his wife, Ada Marion McClintock (née Whitton; 1888–1987).[2][3] He was educated at De La Salle College, Armidale, and the University of Sydney.[3]

McClintock worked in the Naval Supply Office, Department of the Navy, 1935–1947.[4][5] He joined the Australian Trade Commissioner Service, serving in Washington as Commercial Attaché on various international emergency food council committees.[5] He was appointed an Assistant Trade Commissioner in 1948, based in New York.[5] He returned to Australia in 1951 as Director of Trade Promotion in the Department of Commerce and Agriculture.[5]

He was a speech writer for future Prime Minister John McEwen, then Minister for Trade, and served as First Assistant Secretary, Department of Trade, 1958–1961.[6] He was also associated with the Australian Industry Development Corporation.[5]

After leaving the Public Service, he was chairman of Woolworths Limited from 1980 to 1987.[7] During his tenure, the Dick Smith electronics business and Victorian supermarket chain Safeway were acquired, and the "Fresh Food People" slogan was instituted.[8] In 1986, for the first time since 1923, no final dividend was paid on the company's shares.[9]

Directorships and board appointments include Ashton Mining,[10] the Asia Pacific Space Centre Advisory Board,[11] and Commissioner of Medicare Australia 2004–05.[12] He was NSW campaign chair for the Australian Prospectors & Miners' Hall of Fame (now defunct).[13]

McClintock was married to Lady Eve from 1943 until her death in 2013.[3] They had three children;[3] Paul, the former chairman of Myer and Medibank Private; Leigh, who followed his father into the Department of Trade and worked for Alcoa in North Asia; and Marjorie "Marg", an architect.[3][14] In 2010, McClintock delivered the eulogy at the funeral of his friend and neighbour, the novelist Jon Cleary.[15]

McClintock died in Sydney on 27 March 2018 at the age of 99.[3]

Eric McClintock was knighted in the 1981 New Year's Honours for service to exports and industry.[16]