Alex Ross (rower)


Sir Alexander Ross was a New Zealand-born banker and rower who competed at the 1930 British Empire Games. He was a rowing selector for New Zealand's Olympic and Commonwealth teams, New Zealand team manager for the Vancouver Commonwealth Games and chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation from 1968 to 1982.

Rowing

In 1930 he was a member of the men's Coxless fours team that won the bronze medal at the British Empire Games in Hamilton Ontario.

Banking career

His banking career began with The National Bank of New Zealand. He transferred with his colleagues to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand when it was formed in 1934. He had risen to deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank when he was invited by a visitor to New Zealand, John Gibson Jarvie, to join Jarvie's banking group in London, United Dominions Trust Limited where Ross rose to be appointed chairman in 1963.
Ross was also a director, and later, chairman from 1970 to 1975 of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group then headquartered in London. Other posts included deputy chairman of Eagle Star Insurance and director of Whitbread Investment Trust.

Family

Sir Alexander Ross, eldest son of William Alexander Ross and Kathleen née Marks, was born at Herekino, North Auckland, 2 September 1907. He married twice, first Nora Burgess who died in 1974 and they had 2 sons and 2 daughters. In 1975 he married Cynthia Barton. He died in retirement in his 87th year at Tweed Heads West in New South Wales, 10 April 1994.