Obituary: Sir Eion Edgar KNZM DFInstD

Sir Eion Edgar DFInstD passed away in June after a battle with cancer diagnosed in late 2020. 

The Otago-based director and business leader had a long and storied career that included serving as a director of the Reserve Bank, chancellor of the University of Otago, president of the New Zealand Football Association, president of the New Zealand Olympic Committee and being a founding trustee of the Arts Foundation of New Zealand.

Institute of Directors Chief Executive Kirsten Patterson MInstD says Sir Eion was an influential and much-respected figure in the governance community, whose leadership and generosity reached almost every sector of society.

“He was a leader in business, a leader in governance and a leader in philanthropy. His contribution to good governance in New Zealand spanned financial services, sport, education, the arts and health,” Patterson says.

“Sir Eion was recently made a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Directors, the highest honour we can bestow. Our thoughts go out to his family at this time.”

An interview with Sir Eion, to mark his Distinguished Fellowship in April, will be published in the winter issue of Boardroom magazine and can also be read online now.