Editing Rod Eddington

{{short description|Australian cricketer and businessman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2012}}
{{Infobox person
| name                      = Rod Eddington
| honorific_prefix          = [[Sir]] 
| honorific_suffix          = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|AO|FTSE}}
| image                     = 
| alt                       = 
| caption                   = 
| birth_name                = 
| birth_date                = {{birth date and age|1950|01|02|df=y}}<ref name=ci>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/12606.html Rod Eddington], [[CricInfo]]. Retrieved 15 December 2020.</ref>
| birth_place               = [[Perth]], [[Western Australia]], Australia
| death_date                = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) -->
| death_place               = 
| body_discovered           = 
| death_cause               = 
| resting_place             = 
| resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} -->
| monuments                 = 
| nationality               = 
| citizenship               = 
| other_names               = 
| known_for                 = 
| television                = 
| education                 = [[Christ Church Grammar School]]
| alma_mater                = [[University of Western Australia]]<br />[[University of Oxford]]
| employer                  = 
| organization              = 
| notable_works             = 
| style                     = 
| occupation                = Director, [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]]
| years_active              = 
| height                    = 
| title                     = 
| term                      = 
| predecessor               = 
| successor                 = 
| party                     = 
| movement                  = 
| opponents                 = 
| boards                    = 
| criminal_charge           = 
| criminal_penalty          = 
| criminal_status           = 
| spouse                    = Young Sook Park
| partner                   = 
| children                  = 2
| parents                   = 
| relations                 = 
| callsign                  = 
| awards                    = 
| signature                 = 
| signature_alt             = 
| website                   = <!-- {{Url|www.example.com}} -->
| footnotes                 = 
}}
'''Sir Roderick Ian Eddington''' (born 2 January 1950) is an Australian businessman.

He was first appointed to the board of [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] in 1999 and still serves on the [[News Corp (2013–present)|News Corp]] board, as well as the board of another of [[Rupert Murdoch]]'s companies, [[21st Century Fox]], as well as the [[Herald and Weekly Times]] in [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]].

{{as of|December 2020}}, Eddington is chair of [[Lion (Australasian company)|Lion]] and serves on the board of its Japanese parent company, [[Kirin Company|Kirin]]. He is also chair of [[JP Morgan]]'s Asia-Pacific Advisory Council, chair of [[Infrastructure Partnerships Australia]], and a member of the [[APEC]] Business Advisory Council.

He has served in other senior positions including as CEO of [[British Airways]].

==Education and career==
{{Infobox cricketer
|             country = Australia
|             batting = Left-handed
|             bowling = [[Slow left-arm orthodox]]
|               club1 = [[Oxford University Cricket Club|Oxford University]]
|               year1 = {{nowrap|1975–1976}}
|               type1 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
|          debutdate1 = 26 April
|          debutyear1 = 1975
|           debutfor1 = Oxford University
|       debutagainst1 = [[Sussex County Cricket Club|Sussex]]
|           lastdate1 = 23 June
|           lastyear1 = 1976
|            lastfor1 = Oxford University
|        lastagainst1 = Sussex
|             columns = 1
|             column1 = [[First-class cricket|First-class]]
|            matches1 = 8
|               runs1 = 130
|            bat avg1 = 13.00
|           100s/50s1 = 0/0
|          top score1 = 24
|         deliveries1 = 600
|            wickets1 = 8
|           bowl avg1 = 41.12
|            fivefor1 = 0
|             tenfor1 = 0
|       best bowling1 = 3/48
|  catches/stumpings1 = 4/–
|                date = 16 December
|                year = 2009
|              source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/29/29219/29219.html CricketArchive
}}
Coming from a country area where there were no high schools, Eddington went to Perth in 1963 to attend [[Christ Church Grammar School]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Newman|first1=Peter|authorlink=Peter Newman (environmental scientist)|title=Sir Rod Eddington: 'The infrastructure challenges are real'|url=http://theconversation.com/sir-rod-eddington-the-infrastructure-challenges-are-real-4563|website=theconversation.com|publisher=The Conversation Media Group|accessdate=6 February 2015|date=6 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Edwards |first1=Peter |last2=Hillman |first2=Wendy |title=A School With A View: a centenary history of Christ Church Grammar School, Perth 1910-2010 |year=2010|publisher=Christ Church Grammar School |location=Claremont |isbn=9780646543734 |at=Appendix 23: Student Register, pp 379–450 }}</ref><ref name=Rhodes>{{cite web | url = http://www.secretariat.uwa.edu.au/home/rhodes?f=192731 | title = Western Australian Rhodes Scholars | accessdate = 2013-12-19 | format = doc | publisher = University of Western Australia | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110407231628/http://www.secretariat.uwa.edu.au/home/rhodes?f=192731 | archivedate = 7 April 2011 }}</ref> He studied engineering at the [[University of Western Australia]] and graduated with first class honours in 1972. He continued his studies at UWA and completed the degree of Master of Engineering. In 1974, Eddington was the [[Rhodes Scholarship|Rhodes Scholar]] from Western Australia.<ref name=Rhodes/><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.development.uwa.edu.au/alumni_relations/interesting_alumni#6
| title = Interesting Alumni
| accessdate = 2007-04-30
| author = [[University of Western Australia]], Office of Development
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070828212310/http://www.development.uwa.edu.au/alumni_relations/interesting_alumni#6 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-08-28}}</ref> He completed his DPhil in the Department of Engineering Science at the [[University of Oxford]] and played eight [[first-class cricket]] matches for [[Oxford University Cricket Club]] in 1975 and 1976.<ref name=ci/> He was President of [[Vincent's Club]] in 1977.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vincent's Club Presidents |url=http://www.vincents.rogerhutchings.co.uk/about/history/vincents-club-presidents/ |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=Vincent's Club |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Eddington joined the [[Swire Group]] in 1979, working for its subsidiary [[Cathay Pacific]], before being appointed Managing Director in 1992. Continuing his association with the airline industry; News Limited, subsidiary of News Corporation, appointed Eddington Chairman of [[Ansett Australia]] in January 1997, four years before the airline failed. News Corp had taken control of the airline with [[TNT Air Cargo|TNT]] in 1979. Eddington was appointed Deputy Chairman of News Limited in September 1998.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schulze |first1=Jane |title=News Ltd rejigs top jobs |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AWGLNB&req_dat=1054640702C8DBC0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F11BC022C4EB34288 |access-date=26 June 2024 |work=The Age |via=Newsbank |date=2 September 1998 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> He was further promoted to the News Corporation board in September 1999.<ref name=smh2018>{{cite web | last=Bartholomeusz | first=Stephen | title=Highly influential, low profile: Why Eddington prefers movers like the Murdochs | website=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=17 October 2018 | url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/highly-influential-low-profile-why-eddington-prefers-movers-like-the-murdochs-20181012-p509cm.html | access-date=15 December 2020}}</ref>

===British Airways CEO===
Eddington replaced former British Airways CEO [[Bob Ayling]] on 2 May 2000. He reversed many of the policies of his predecessor in early 2001, such as the unpopular [[British Airways ethnic liveries|ethnic-art tailfins]]. He steered the company in the aftermath of the [[11 September 2001 attacks]] on [[New York City]] and [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>{{cite news |title=BA to axe 7,000 jobs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/sep/20/september11.usa10 |access-date=26 June 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=20 September 2001}}</ref>

In 2003, he retired the British Airways Concorde, a move viewed as controversial.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.concorde-spirit-tours.com/concorde.htm|title=THE BETRAYAL OF CONCORDE|website=www.concorde-spirit-tours.com|access-date=7 January 2014|archive-date=2 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202181316/http://www.concorde-spirit-tours.com/concorde.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Eddington stepped down as chief executive officer of British Airways on 30 September 2005, after more than five years in the position. He then returned to Australia to take up a position as the head of the Victorian Major Events Association, succeeding [[Steve Vizard]]. Eddington was replaced by Willie Walsh in October 2005 after he had followed a six-month shadow position.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clarke |first=Michael |date=2012-04-13 |title=Walsh to replace Eddington at BA |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/walsh-to-replace-eddington-at-ba-7169429.html |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}</ref>

===Board memberships===
In February 2006, Eddington served as a non-executive board member of [[JPMorgan]] representing Australia and New Zealand.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

As of 2018, he still served on the boards of [[News Corp (2013–present)|News Corp]] and [[21st Century Fox]].<ref name=smh2018/> In April 2019 he joined the board of News Corp's [[Herald and Weekly Times]] in [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Sir Rod Eddington AO Joins Herald & Weekly Time Board | website=B&T | date=15 April 2019 | url=https://www.bandt.com.au/sir-rod-eddignton-ao-joins-herald-weekly-time-board/ | access-date=15 December 2020}}</ref>

Eddington was appointed to the board of [[Lion (Australasian company)|Lion]] in March 2011, and appointed chair in March 2012. He joined the parent company's board ([[Kirin Company|Kirin]]) in March 2020, and holds these positions {{as of|lc=yes|December 2020}}.<ref name=lionchair>{{cite web | title=Our Leadership - About Us | website=Lion | url=https://www.lionco.com/about-us/our-leadership | access-date=15 December 2020}}</ref>

{{as of|December 2020}} Eddington was:
*chair of [[JP Morgan]]'s Asia-Pacific Advisory Council;
*chair of [[Infrastructure Partnerships Australia]];
*a member of the [[APEC]] Business Advisory Council; and
*President of the [[Australia Japan Business Cooperation Committee]].{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

==Government reports==

===Transport Study in Britain===
{{main|Eddington Transport Study}}
On 1 December 2006, Eddington published a UK government-sponsored [[Eddington Transport Study|report into the future of Britain's transport infrastructure]]. Known as the Eddington Transport Study, it spelled out a plan to improve road and rail networks, as a "crucial enabler of sustained productivity and competitiveness".  In its conclusions, the report highlighted Britain's transport networks that provide the right connections, in the right places, to support the journeys that matter to economic performance.  But roads in particular were in serious danger of becoming so congested, the economy would suffer.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

At the launch of the report Eddington told journalists and transport industry representatives introducing [[road pricing]] to encourage drivers to drive less was an "economic no-brainer".  There was, he said "no attractive alternative".  It would cut congestion by half by 2025, and bring benefits to the British economy totalling £28b.<ref>{{cite web| title = Speech by Rod Eddington to the Commonwealth Club in London on 1 December 2006| author = Rod Eddington| date = December 2006| url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/162259/187604/206711/speech| publisher = [[Department for Transport]]| access-date = 29 April 2008| archive-date = 4 July 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080704081713/http://www.dft.gov.uk/162259/187604/206711/speech| url-status = dead}}</ref>

The report also called for a programme of improvements to existing road and rail networks, the expansion of key airports, and adoption of the general principle that travellers should pay for the external costs of the pollution and congestion their journeys cause.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

===Transport Study in Victoria, Australia===
{{main|Eddington Transport Report, Victoria}}
Eddington has since delivered a report to the Victorian Government of Australia, the East West Link Needs Assessment report, which was met with mixed reactions. Economic commentators criticised the cost-benefit ratios of Eddington's proposals, which on Eddington's own analysis were marginal at best.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://business.theage.com.au/business/eddington-report-raises-questions-20080403-23ja.html | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | first=Malcolm | last=Maiden | title=Eddington report raises questions | date=4 April 2008}}</ref>

==Honours==
Eddington is a Council member of the [[Royal Institution of Australia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://riaus.org.au/organisation/|title=Royal Institution of Australia > Organisation|website=Royal Institution of Australia|language=en-Au|access-date=23 April 2020|archive-date=16 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416162743/https://riaus.org.au/organisation/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Eddington received a British [[knighthood]] in 2005 for services to the [[aviation]] industry.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/dec/08/transportintheuk.australia|title=Affable airline boss becomes knight of the roads|work=The Guardian|date=2006-12-08|access-date=2023-08-01}}</ref>

In 2012 he was appointed an [[Officer of the Order of Australia]] (AO) "for distinguished service to business and commerce through roles with a range of national and international economic, trade, infrastructure development and transport organisations",<ref name=AO>[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1145055 EDDINGTON, Roderick Ian - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)], 26 January 2012, It's an Honour</ref> and was also elected a [[Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering]].

In 2015 he was awarded the Grand Cordon of the [[Order of the Rising Sun]] by the [[Japanese Government]] for his "contribution to strengthening the economic relations between Australia and Japan".<ref name=lionchair/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{YouTube|il36J0c1CFM|Talking to John Brumby}}
* [http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/transportstrategy/eddingtonstudy/ The Eddington Transport Study at the DfT]
* [http://www.transport.vic.gov.au/research/research-and-policy-development-publications/investing-in-transport-report Investing in Transport: East West Link Needs Assessment Report to Victorian Government, March 2008.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729074334/http://www.transport.vic.gov.au/research/research-and-policy-development-publications/investing-in-transport-report |date=29 July 2013 }}
*{{cricinfo|id=12606}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-bus}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Robert Ayling|Bob Ayling]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=CEO of [[British Airways]]|years=2000&ndash;2005}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Willie Walsh (businessman)|Willie Walsh]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{News Corporation}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eddington, Rod}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Perth, Western Australia]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Perth, Western Australia]]
[[Category:University of Western Australia alumni]]
[[Category:News Corporation people]]
[[Category:Australian cricketers]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate cricketers in England]]
[[Category:Alumni of Lincoln College, Oxford]]
[[Category:Australian Rhodes Scholars]]
[[Category:Oxford University cricketers]]
[[Category:People educated at Christ Church Grammar School]]
[[Category:People educated at Perth Modern School]]
[[Category:Australian Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Businesspeople awarded knighthoods]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:British Airways people]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Western Australia]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering]]
[[Category:Chief executives in the airline industry]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen]]